US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of refusing to make a deal to end the war, saying "now they will have to pay the price."
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump claimed that much of Iran's military "doesn't even exist anymore," following the US and Israeli attacks of the past months.
"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 did not give further details on what the US' next steps would entail.
It comes after fighting between the United States and Iran briefly flared up again overnight, once again testing the fragile ceasefire in place since April, and as Trump seeks to negotiate an end to the war he launched alongside Israel on February 28.
The latest US attacks on Iran came in response to Iranian forces shooting down a US military helicopter off Oman on Monday night, according to Trump.
Iran retaliated by attacking US bases in the Gulf region as well as in Jordan, according to Iranian media.
Early on Wednesday, the US CENTCOM command responsible for the region declared the US "self-defense strikes" targeting Iran as "completed."
With negotiations on a long-term peace settlement having stalled for weeks, Trump has repeatedly taken to social media, alternating between threatening Iran with further military action and claiming that a deal was imminent.
