Trump says Iran must surrender as 60-day ceasefire ends

The 60-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran is set to expire on Monday, August 17, 2026, amid escalating tensions and conflicting signals from Washington. President Donald Trump has issued a series of stark warnings, including a threat to bomb Oman if it interferes with U.S. objectives, while also claiming to have a direct backchannel to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In a phone interview with Fox News on Monday, Trump stated that Iran should "put up the white flag of surrender" and confirmed the existence of a backchannel for peace talks with the IRGC, bypassing traditional Iranian political officials and mediators. He maintained that his primary goal remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. "The number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president's comments came as the ceasefire deadline passed. While one report indicated the ceasefire had been extended, citing a prediction market tweet, other sources confirmed its expiration. The situation is further complicated by recent actions from Tehran. On Sunday, Iranian Army chief Amir...