U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying that time is running out for Tehran to agree to a new nuclear deal, as tensions between the two long-time adversaries continue to escalate. Trump said that failure to reach an agreement could result in much harsher consequences, including possible military action, raising global concerns about stability in the Middle East.
In recent statements posted on social media and echoed by senior U.S. officials, Trump urged Iran to return to negotiations and accept strict limits on its nuclear programme. He said the United States is prepared to act if diplomacy fails, warning that any future response would be “far worse” than previous actions. The president also pointed to an increased U.S. military presence in the region, including the deployment of naval assets, as a signal of Washington’s seriousness.
Iran has firmly rejected the warning, saying it will not negotiate under threats or pressure. Iranian officials insist that the country’s nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes and argue that coercion undermines any chance of meaningful diplomacy. Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran remains open to dialogue, but only on the basis of mutual respect and without military intimidation.
The renewed confrontation has triggered reactions beyond Washington and Tehran. Oil prices have risen as investors respond to fears that escalating tensions could disrupt energy supplies from the Middle East. Several regional and international actors, including European and Middle Eastern governments, have called for restraint and urged both sides to pursue a diplomatic solution to avoid conflict.
Analysts say the standoff highlights deep mistrust between the two countries, rooted in years of sanctions, broken agreements and regional rivalries. While the United States is pushing for tighter controls on Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, Iran is demanding guarantees against future sanctions and military action.
For now, both sides appear entrenched, with diplomacy hanging in the balance. Observers say the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the crisis moves toward renewed negotiations or slides further toward confrontation, with potentially serious consequences for regional and global security.
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