Iran live updates: Trump threatens 'the bombing starts' if Iran doesn't make a deal

President Donald Trump said combat operations in Iran are not over and the U.S. "could go in for two more weeks" to get "every single target," in an interview on Tuesday.

Trump was asked whether the combat operations in Iran are over, to which he responded, "no, I didn't say that."

The comments from Trump were taped around 3 p.m., according to the president's schedule; the same time that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was at the White House podium saying the exact opposite.

Rubio said the "operation is over," later doubling down and insisting that "Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation."

Trump had also submitted a letter to Congress last week claiming that the "hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated," something that Rubio cited when arguing that the military operation was over.

President Donald Trump said in a post to social media on Wednesday that the U.S. could resume attacks on Iran if Tehran fails to agree to a deal to end the war.

"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.

"If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," the president added.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that "Project Freedom" -- the U.S. operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz -- will be paused "for a short period of time" to see if an agreement can be reached with Iran.

"Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump said in a post on social media.

The pause comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in the White House briefing room just hours earlier that Project Freedom, which began Monday, was the next phase of the war.

Trump first announced Project Freedom on Sunday in a post, promising the Navy would "guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways."

The administration has said that two vessels have been helped through the strait by Project Freedom.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House that operation Epic Fury is now over, saying the U.S. is now involved in a "defensive" operation as it seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"If they pose a threat to our forces, we'll shoot down drones, we'll shoot down missiles. But it's defensive in nature," Rubio said.

"There's no shooting unless we're shot at first. We're not attacking them. We're not. But if they are attacking us ... you need to respond to that," Rubio said.