Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran: Bombing Likely Without Nuclear Deal
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Synopsis
On March 31, US President Donald Trump cautioned Iran about potential bombings and tariffs if an agreement on the nuclear program isn't reached. Trump's comments follow Iran's rejection of direct talks with the US, emphasizing the escalating tensions surrounding the nuclear issue.
Key Takeaways
- Trump warns Iran of severe consequences if no deal is made.
- Iran has declined direct negotiations with the US.
- Secondary tariffs on Iran could be reinstated.
- Western nations suspect Iran of nuclear weapons ambitions.
- Tehran insists its nuclear program serves civilian purposes.
Washington, March 31 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has issued a serious warning to Iran regarding potential bombings and additional tariffs if the Islamic Republic fails to secure a deal with the US concerning its nuclear program.
"If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump stated in a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday.
These remarks come after Iran declined direct discussions with Washington last week. Trump mentioned that US and Iranian officials were in communication, although he did not provide further details.
"It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before," the US President warned.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian responded on Sunday, stating that the Islamic Republic has rejected negotiations with the US regarding its rapidly advancing nuclear program. This was in response to a letter Trump sent to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump also hinted at the possibility of reinstating economic sanctions, similar to measures he had implemented in the past.
"There’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, that I will impose secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago," Trump told "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker.
In response to Trump's call for a new nuclear agreement, Iran conveyed its position through Oman, stating it would not engage in direct negotiations with the US while under the maximum pressure campaign and military threats, as reported by Tehran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
Pezeshkian reiterated this stance on Sunday.
During the NBC interview, Trump also threatened to impose so-called secondary tariffs on both Russia and Iran, having signed an executive order the previous week that authorized tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil.
During his first term, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and world powers, which had placed strict limits on Tehran's controversial nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Since then, the Islamic Republic has exceeded the agreed-upon limits in its uranium enrichment program.
Tehran has dismissed Trump's warnings to reach a deal or face military repercussions.
Western nations accuse Iran of pursuing a secret agenda to develop nuclear weapon capabilities by enriching uranium to levels deemed excessive for a civilian nuclear energy program.
Tehran maintains that its nuclear initiative is entirely for civilian energy purposes.
