New Delhi, Updated At: 10:54 AM Apr 09, 2026 IST
Donald Trump. Reuters file
US President Donald Trump said American military forces will remain deployed in and around Iran until a final ceasefire agreement is fully implemented, signaling Washington’s intent to keep pressure during fragile truce conditions in the region.
“All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He warned that any violation of the understanding could trigger a sharp military response. “If for any reason it is not [complied with], which is highly unlikely, then the ‘shooting starts’ — bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” he said.
Reiterating key US objectives, Trump stressed that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz would remain “open and safe,” underscoring the strategic importance of the oil transit route.
The comments come amid a tenuous ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with tensions persisting despite the temporary halt in hostilities and competing claims about the truce’s scope across the region. Trump said US forces were “loading up and resting” while remaining prepared for further action if needed, projecting confidence in military readiness and the broader geopolitical outcome.
His statements reflect a hardline US stance as diplomatic efforts continue to secure a durable agreement, with the coming days seen as critical in determining whether the ceasefire holds or returns to escalation.
