REGION ON EDGE: A CRITICAL WEEK AHEAD

Trump threats, shaky truce, Iran-Israel preparations raise fears of renewed war

- BY STEPHEN N.R.

Iranian military personnel (above and top right) educate people on how to use a gun at booths in Hafte Tir Square, in Tehran on Sunday.

(AFP)

After weeks of uneasy calm, the fragile ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran appears increasingly at risk of collapse, with mounting signs that all sides are preparing for another possible round of conflict.

US President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric in recent hours, posting a series of warnings and threats on Truth Social amid reports he could soon meet military advisers to discuss next steps on Iran.

Multiple reports and regional sources suggest Washington and Israel are actively weighing renewed military action if ongoing negotiations fail to produce a breakthrough.

At the centre of the deadlock remains Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile — the single biggest obstacle preventing a broader agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz fully.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled over the weekend that Israel remains on alert for renewed hostilities.