Trump close to ordering new strikes on Iran: Fox News

• Trump says he is close to ordering new strikes on Iranian infrastructure.
• Trump claims Iran is delaying negotiations with Washington.
• Comments follow overnight US strikes targeting Iranian radar and air defense systems.

President of the United States Donald Trump said he is moving closer to ordering new US strikes targeting Iranian power plants and bridges, signaling possible further escalation if negotiations with Tehran fail.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Iran had been “tapping the United States along” during ongoing diplomatic efforts and suggested military action remained under consideration.

Trump said Tehran had been given opportunities to reach an agreement but claimed progress had stalled.

His remarks came after overnight US strikes targeting Iranian radar and air defense systems. According to Trump, the strikes were intended to degrade defensive capabilities that he said Iran had attempted to rebuild during a ceasefire period.

Trump also claimed the United States had significantly reduced those capabilities and indicated additional military options remain available.

Iran will now “pay the price”: Trump

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Iran has taken too long to negotiate a deal over the conflict in the Middle East and will now "have to pay the price."

Trump's social media post, in which he asserted that the Iranian military has been "completely defeated," came after the United States and Iran exchanged fire, straining a ceasefire that took effect in April.

"The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

It marked a contrast with his comments to reporters on Tuesday that negotiations on an enduring settlement to end the war were in their "final throes," and could be wrapped up in "two or three days."

Late on Tuesday, US forces said they carried out strikes against Iran in retaliation for the downing of an American helicopter on Monday, with explosions reported by Iranian media along its southern coast.

US Central Command later said that the US Air Force and Navy had command and control, defense and surveillance stations.