Trump warns Iran of potential military action
The US president asserted that if negotiations with Tehran break down, Israel would take the lead in any potential bombing campaign. US President Donald Trump indicated that he has a specific timeline for finalizing a deal regarding Iran’s...
TroibNews 
The US president asserted that if negotiations with Tehran break down, Israel would take the lead in any potential bombing campaign.
US President Donald Trump indicated that he has a specific timeline for finalizing a deal regarding Iran’s nuclear program and confirmed that he would “absolutely” contemplate military action should talks fail.
Scheduled discussions in Oman on Saturday, initiated by Trump, aim to address apprehensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear aspirations. The US president suggested that the talks would be direct, while Tehran has maintained they will be indirect, citing a lack of trust in Washington.
When asked if he anticipates “something definitive” to come from the meeting, Trump shared his perspective with reporters at the White House on Wednesday. He characterized the Oman talks as the start of a process while revealing that he has a specific deadline in mind.
“It’s a start. We have a little time, but we don’t have much time. Because we’re not gonna let them have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “When you start talks, you know if they’re going along well or not. And I would say the conclusion would be when I think they’re not going along well. So that’s just a feeling.”
Earlier this week, Trump warned Iran of a “great danger” and a “very bad day” should the negotiations fail. When pressed by reporters if this indicated a readiness to employ military force, the president clarified his stance.
“Oh, if necessary? Absolutely! With Iran, yeah, if it requires military, we’re going to have military… Israel will obviously be very much involved in that – they’ll be the leader of that.”
During his first term, Trump withdrew unilaterally from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a multinational agreement that aimed to curtail Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Since taking office again in January, he has reinstated a “maximum pressure” approach, accusing Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons and imposing additional sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.
In early March, Trump disclosed that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggesting renewed negotiations. He cautioned that if Tehran declined the offer, it could face military strikes “the likes of which it has never seen.”
Iran asserts that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes and has consistently condemned US sanctions as illegal and unjustified. Iranian officials have proclaimed that the nation is ready to respond to any aggression and have reportedly elevated military readiness.
Addressing a National Nuclear Technology Day event on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would convey Khamenei's directives during the Oman talks.
“As the Supreme Leader has stated, the Islamic Republic is ready for engagement… but this engagement must be indirect, dignified, and accompanied by clear guarantees, because we still do not trust the other side,” a press release from the president’s office detailed.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump indicated that he has a specific timeline for finalizing a deal regarding Iran’s nuclear program and confirmed that he would “absolutely” contemplate military action should talks fail.
Scheduled discussions in Oman on Saturday, initiated by Trump, aim to address apprehensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear aspirations. The US president suggested that the talks would be direct, while Tehran has maintained they will be indirect, citing a lack of trust in Washington.
When asked if he anticipates “something definitive” to come from the meeting, Trump shared his perspective with reporters at the White House on Wednesday. He characterized the Oman talks as the start of a process while revealing that he has a specific deadline in mind.
“It’s a start. We have a little time, but we don’t have much time. Because we’re not gonna let them have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “When you start talks, you know if they’re going along well or not. And I would say the conclusion would be when I think they’re not going along well. So that’s just a feeling.”
Earlier this week, Trump warned Iran of a “great danger” and a “very bad day” should the negotiations fail. When pressed by reporters if this indicated a readiness to employ military force, the president clarified his stance.
“Oh, if necessary? Absolutely! With Iran, yeah, if it requires military, we’re going to have military… Israel will obviously be very much involved in that – they’ll be the leader of that.”
During his first term, Trump withdrew unilaterally from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a multinational agreement that aimed to curtail Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Since taking office again in January, he has reinstated a “maximum pressure” approach, accusing Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons and imposing additional sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.
In early March, Trump disclosed that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggesting renewed negotiations. He cautioned that if Tehran declined the offer, it could face military strikes “the likes of which it has never seen.”
Iran asserts that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes and has consistently condemned US sanctions as illegal and unjustified. Iranian officials have proclaimed that the nation is ready to respond to any aggression and have reportedly elevated military readiness.
Addressing a National Nuclear Technology Day event on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would convey Khamenei's directives during the Oman talks.
“As the Supreme Leader has stated, the Islamic Republic is ready for engagement… but this engagement must be indirect, dignified, and accompanied by clear guarantees, because we still do not trust the other side,” a press release from the president’s office detailed.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
