U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Sunday, threatening military action and economic sanctions if Tehran refuses to negotiate on its nuclear program.
Speaking in an NBC News interview, Trump declared that if Iran does not reach an agreement with Washington, “there will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
His remarks follow Iran’s rejection of direct negotiations with the U.S. last week.
Instead, Iranian officials confirmed that indirect discussions are ongoing, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei allowing diplomatic exchanges through intermediaries.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Tehran would not engage in direct talks while facing Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign.
Trump also floated the possibility of reintroducing secondary tariffs, similar to those imposed during his first term.
These penalties would target countries and entities that conduct business with Iran, further isolating the nation economically. The president hinted that similar measures could be applied to Russia and Venezuela.
In 2018, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, reimposing severe sanctions. Since then, Iran has significantly expanded its uranium enrichment program, raising concerns among Western nations that Tehran could be advancing toward nuclear weapons capability—a charge Iran denies, insisting its nuclear ambitions are purely civilian.
