Iranians on Monday (May 18), reacted to U.S. President, Donald Trump's threats by saying that Tehran should stand firm against Trump's threats.

"I believe that what he (Trump) is saying, whether in the form of negotiations or threats, is only aimed at weakening our diplomatic apparatus and our military forces. We must stand firmly against it," said Iranian citizen Pahrizgar.

U.S. President Donald Trump ‌on Sunday (May 17) threatened consequences for Iran if its leaders ⁠do not act quickly.

"For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get ‌moving, ⁠FAST, or there won’t be anything left ⁠of them. TIME IS OF THE ⁠ESSENCE!," he wrote ⁠in a Truth Social post.

More than five weeks after a tenuous ceasefire in the conflict took effect, U.S. and Iranian demands remain far apart despite diplomatic efforts to end the war and reopen the strait, the world's most important shipping route for oil and gas.

Washington has called for Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program and lift its hold on the strait. Iran has demanded compensation for war damage, an end to a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and a halt to fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel is battling Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The U.S. has imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports, and said that as of Sunday (May 17) it had redirected 81 commercial vessels and disabled four vessels to ensure compliance.

Thousands of Iranians were killed during the U.S. and Israeli air strikes, before the United States paused its attacks last month and began a port blockade.

Tehran, which carried out strikes against Israel, U.S. bases and Gulf states after the war began, has said it will not unblock the Strait of Hormuz until the U.S. ends its blockade. Trump has threatened to resume attacks if Iran does not agree to a deal.

Talks on ending the war have been on hold since last week when Iran and the U.S. each rejected the other's most recent proposals.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

TEHRAN, IRAN (MAY 18, 2026) (WANA - No use BBC Persian. No use VOA Persian. No use Manoto. No use Iran International. No use Radio Farda)

1. TEHRAN SKYLINE

2. FLOWING TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY

3. IRANIAN FLAGS

4. FLOWING TRAFFIC, CARS PASSING

5. BILLBOARD ON BUILDING SHOWING IMAGE OF LATE REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS NAVY COMMANDER, ALIREZA TANGSIRI, STANDING NEXT TO UNIDENTIFIED MAN

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) TEHRAN RESIDENT (NO FIRST NAME GIVEN) PAHRIZGAR, SAYING:

"I believe that what he (Trump) is saying, whether in the form of negotiations or threats, is only aimed at weakening our diplomatic apparatus and our military forces. We must stand firmly against it. We have paid a heavy price; the blood of our martyrs has been shed here. We have, in fact, given many sacrifices. Under no circumstances should any compromise be made with him."

7. BILLBOARD ON BUILDING SHOWING IMAGE OF LATE REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS NAVY COMMANDER, ALIREZA TANGSIRI, STANDING NEXT TO UNIDENTIFIED MAN

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) TEHRAN RESIDENT (NO FIRST NAME GIVEN) PAHRIZGAR, SAYING:

"The possibility of him (Trump) attacking is very high; the attacks will be local and geographically limited, but intense, but will not yield results, and I believe that like the previous time, he will get no results. We should not back down from our positions."

9. TRAFFIC, IRANIAN FLAGS, PEOPLE PASSING, BILLBOARD IN VALIASR SQUARE SHOWING IMAGE OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ COVERING U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S MOUTH / TEXT READING (English): "At the breaking point"

10. BILLBOARD OF TRUMP, IRANIAN FLAGS

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) TEHRAN RESIDENT, ALIREZA MADANI, SAYING:

"Negotiation is meaningful when it is conducted with a reasonable person, not with someone who lacks mental and emotional stability. You speak with someone who genuinely wants to engage with you and understand what you are saying, not with someone who has no intention of talking at all. In the middle of negotiations, we were attacked twice. Negotiations were held, an agreement was drafted, and then they withdrew from it. What guarantee is there that the next round of negotiations will be any different, makes more sense?"

12. IRANIAN FLAGS

13. AZADI TOWER, CARS PASSING, IRANIAN FLAGS