U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Wednesday, urging Tehran to return to negotiations on a nuclear agreement or face a military strike “far worse” than previous actions, as tensions escalate between the two countries.
In a post on social media, Trump said he hopes Iran will “quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal — NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS — one that is good for all parties.” He added that “time is running out” and pointed to past U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as evidence that the threat is real, warning that the next attack would be more severe if Iran refuses to negotiate.
Trump also reiterated that a U.S. naval “armada” — led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln — is heading toward Iranian waters, a signal of mounting military pressure on Tehran.
Tehran Rejects Negotiations Under Threat
Iran responded firmly to Trump’s remarks. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that his country has not recently sought talks with U.S. negotiators and opposed negotiating under the shadow of threats, according to state media.
Separately, Iran’s mission to the United Nations made it clear that Tehran would defend itself “like never before” in case of U.S. military action, stressing that any talks must occur on terms of mutual respect rather than coercion.
Regional and Diplomatic Fallout
The warning comes amid a broad U.S. military buildup in the Middle East and ongoing anti-government protests within Iran, which have drawn international concern. While some regional actors, including Turkey, have called for diplomatic engagement to avoid conflict, Iran has maintained that it will only negotiate without military threats.
Trump’s statement marks one of the most forceful public ultimatums to Tehran in recent months and intensifies already high tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and broader geopolitical disputes.
