US President Donald Trump has threatened to launch an expanded military operation against Iran dubbed "Project Freedom Plus" after rejecting Tehran's response to a US proposal aimed at ending the war .
The remarks have raised questions about whether Washington could return to military escalation in the Strait of Hormuz after briefly suspending its original "Project Freedom" operation last week. What was the original 'Project Freedom' operation? Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump hinted at reviving the military option if negotiations fail.
"We may go back to Project Freedom if things don't happen, but it'll be Project Freedom Plus, meaning Project Freedom plus other things," Trump said without elaborating on what the additional measures would include.
The original "Project Freedom" operation was launched by the United States last Monday and involved escorting and guiding commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure freedom of navigation after weeks of tensions in the strategic waterway.
The operation was halted less than 48 hours later after Pakistan reportedly asked Washington to pause the mission pending Iran's response to a proposed ceasefire and political agreement.
Trump later claimed Islamabad had requested the suspension while mediators awaited Tehran's answer to the US proposal. What could 'Project Freedom Plus' involve? According to media reports and comments from US officials, "Project Freedom Plus" would represent a broader version of the earlier operation and could involve direct military action against Iran if diplomacy collapses.
Trump signalled over the weekend that he remained open to renewed military strikes, saying the US may need "two more weeks" of military action against Iran and threatening attacks on Iranian oil fields, bridges and electricity infrastructure if Tehran refuses Washington's conditions.
The US president also intensified his rhetoric against Tehran in televised remarks aired on Sunday.
"The Iranians have been stringing us along for 47 years," Trump said. "They will not be laughing at us anymore."
The threats came shortly before Trump publicly rejected Iran's response to the US proposal.
"I have just read the response from Iran's so-called representatives. I don't like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright also backed the possibility of renewed military action, saying Washington could use force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if negotiations fail.
"If we don't get a deal with Iran, we will use military force to open the strait to everyone," Wright said during an interview with NBC 's "Meet the Press".
Hawkish Republican Senator Lindsey Graham praised the proposed "Project Freedom Plus" operation, suggesting it could involve broader international participation and what he described as "limited kinetic activity".
It remains unclear what additional measures the operation would include, though Trump has repeatedly called for greater involvement from US allies, particularly European partners, in securing shipping routes through the Gulf . How did Iran respond to Washington? Iran reportedly submitted its response to Washington through Pakistani mediators as part of ongoing negotiations to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz .
Sources close to the talks told The New Arab that Tehran's 14-point response included a proposal to discuss its nuclear programme within 30 days, alongside demands for sanctions relief, an end to the naval blockade and a ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon.
Iranian conservative outlet Tasnim News Agency reported that Tehran demanded guarantees against renewed attacks and called for the lifting of restrictions on Iranian oil exports and the release of frozen assets within 30 days of any preliminary agreement.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Tehran proposed a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting restrictions on Iranian ships and ports.
The newspaper also reported that Iran offered limited flexibility on uranium enrichment, including discussing the nuclear programme within 30 days, reducing enrichment levels for part of its uranium stockpile and transferring another portion abroad under guarantees that it would be returned if negotiations collapse. Could fighting resume across the region? The ceasefire between the United States and Iran began on 8 April for an initial two-week period, then was extended indefinitely as negotiations continued without reaching a final agreement.
Despite the truce, fighting and regional tensions have persisted, particularly in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli strikes have continued in Lebanon despite the ceasefire announced in mid-April, with Lebanon's health ministry saying dozens of people have been killed in recent days.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with CBS aired on Sunday that the war with Iran was "not over" and insisted Iran's enriched uranium stockpile "has to be taken out".
"There are still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled," Netanyahu said, while also calling for the destruction of Iran-backed groups across the region.
Netanyahu also suggested that any ceasefire with Iran should not necessarily apply to Lebanon, despite reports that Tehran has conditioned any broader agreement with Washington on ending hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon.
The Israeli premier, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza, also acknowledged that Israel had "lost the media war", blaming social media platforms for declining support among younger Americans for Israel's war policies.