ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON — The fragile ceasefire in the 2026 Iran War reached a perilous tipping point on Tuesday, May 12, as Tehran issued a nuclear ultimatum in response to President Donald Trump’s threats of renewed military strikes. This escalation comes as a new Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals deep domestic skepticism, with two-thirds of Americans stating they do not understand the administration’s strategic objectives in the conflict.
Tehran’s 90% Warning
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, declared that if the United States or Israel resume “Operation Epic Fury,” Tehran will move to enrich uranium to 90% purity.
- Weapons-Grade Threshold: While Iran currently enriches to 60%, the leap to 90% is widely considered the technical threshold for nuclear weapons-grade material.
- Parliamentary Review: Rezaei noted that the Iranian parliament is prepared to formally authorize this shift if hostilities resume, effectively ending decades of claims that their nuclear program is purely civilian.
Poll: 66% Say War Goals Are Unclear
In Washington, the Trump administration faces a “clarity crisis.” A four-day poll completed Monday found that 66% of Americans—including nearly all Democrats and one in three Republicans—believe the President has not “clearly explained the goals” of the war.
- Economic Toll: 63% of households report a significant financial hit due to a 50% surge in gasoline prices following Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Approval Ratings: Despite the confusion, Trump’s approval rating ticked up slightly to 36%, though it remains lower than his pre-war standing of 40%.
Negotiations on “Massive Life Support”
The rhetoric follows a failed round of peace talks in Islamabad. While Iran proposed reopening the Strait in exchange for ending the U.S. blockade, President Trump rejected the draft as “totally unacceptable,” insisting that Iran must export its highly enriched uranium to the U.S. as a condition for peace.
