Former US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of mocking the United States for nearly half a century, vowing that Tehran “will be laughing no longer” as tensions over diplomacy and regional conflict continue to simmer.

Trump’s remarks, posted on his Truth Social platform, came after Iranian state media reported that Tehran had delivered its formal response to a US-backed peace proposal. The initiative is aimed at easing a web of confrontations stretching from the Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean.

“Iran has been playing games with the United States, and the rest of the World, for 47 years (DELAY, DELAY, DELAY!),” Trump wrote, charging that the Islamic Republic had spent decades stalling, provoking and testing Washington’s resolve. He added that Iranian leaders had been “laughing at our now GREAT AGAIN Country” but warned, “They will be laughing no longer!”

Trump also revived one of his longstanding grievances against the Obama administration, accusing it of empowering Tehran. He pointed to the 2015 nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as a turning point that gave Iran “a major and very powerful new lease on life.” The deal, which Trump later withdrew from while in office, lifted many international sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear activities.

While Trump did not address the specifics of Iran’s latest message to Washington, Iranian state television said Tehran’s response centered on halting the war “on all fronts,” with particular emphasis on Lebanon. It also highlighted the security of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil supplies and a recurring flashpoint between Iran and Western navies.

The reported response followed a US proposal that hostilities be stopped first, with negotiations on more sensitive issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, to follow. A Pakistani official, speaking to Reuters, said Islamabad had relayed Iran’s position to Washington as part of its ongoing mediation efforts.

US officials have yet to issue a detailed public reaction to Tehran’s latest move, leaving open questions about whether the exchange marks a genuine opening for de-escalation or simply the latest round in a long-running cycle of threats, counteroffers and mutual suspicion.