Washington/Tehran, 6 May 2026 (dpa/MIA) - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday held out the prospect of a possible end to the Iran war, while also threatening Tehran with heavy attacks, as Iran said it was reviewing a new US negotiation proposal.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai told the ISNA news agency that Tehran would communicate its position to mediator Pakistan after examining the proposal. He did not disclose details of the offer.

But Baghai also dismissed as exaggerated a US media report by Axios that a deal to end the conflict was close. The outlet had cited US sources as saying a one-page memo to quickly settle the war was nearing completion.

"Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The US government had dubbed its war against Iran, launched jointly with Israel on February 28, Epic Fury.

If Tehran did not enter into an agreement, "the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," he wrote.

Trump's surprising U-turn
Just on Tuesday, Trump unexpectedly announced on Truth Social that he would suspend "for a short period of time" the US operation launched on Monday to ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

During the pause in Project Freedom, as the operation is known, the US would examine whether an agreement with Iran could be concluded and signed. There had been "Great Progress" towards a "Complete and Final Agreement," he wrote.

With Project Freedom, the US aims to reopen the largely blocked Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Iran had reacted furiously to the operation.

Fears have been growing since Monday, when violence flared in the strait, that the ceasefire in place for around a month could collapse.

The waterway is of crucial importance for the global economy, as key oil and liquefied gas exports from the Gulf states travel through there on their way to world markets.

MIA file photo