President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Friday, saying that unless Tehran agrees to a new nuclear deal with the United States, “very bad things” will happen to the country.
The comments mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric as the two countries edge closer to a potential confrontation over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.
“Iran is very high on my list of things to watch,” Trump said during remarks at the White House. “We will have to talk it out, or very bad things are gonna happen to Iran, and I don’t want that to happen.”
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Trump added that his “big preference” is a diplomatic resolution but stressed that military action remains on the table if an agreement is not reached within the next two months.
Trump’s remarks come after Iran formally responded to a letter he sent three weeks ago to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which included a two-month ultimatum for a new deal. The response was delivered via Oman, a country that has previously mediated between the U.S. and Iran.
According to sources familiar with the exchange, the Sultanate of Oman has briefed U.S. officials on the content of Iran’s message and will deliver a formal letter to the White House in the coming days.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran chose Oman as an intermediary due to their longstanding role as a trusted go-between, adding that Iran currently has no interest in direct talks with the United States but is open to indirect negotiations.
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“We are ready to start indirect negotiations and take next steps if the talks are on equal footing,” said Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Khamenei and former head of Iran’s National Security Council.
Iran’s nuclear program has significantly advanced in recent years. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran now possesses enough 60% enriched uranium to build six nuclear bombs if it enriches the material to 90% weapons-grade levels.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, but U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies have raised alarms over the speed and scope of Iran’s uranium enrichment and ballistic missile development.
The situation remains volatile, and Trump’s deadline is seen by many foreign policy experts as a pressure tactic designed to force Iran back to the table while preserving the threat of military action.
In 2018, during his first term, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal brokered by the Obama administration, reimposing crushing sanctions on Tehran. Since then, Iran has ramped up its enrichment and reduced cooperation with international inspectors.
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Khamenei has repeatedly said that the U.S. “cannot be trusted” after Trump’s withdrawal from the deal, and some Iranian officials have expressed skepticism about re-engaging with Washington.
“If the U.S. or anyone else commits any malicious act against Iran, they will receive a severe blow,” Khamenei said last week.
Still, Friday’s comments suggest that both sides are at least leaving the door open to indirect diplomacy—albeit under serious pressure.
It remains unclear whether Iran will accept Trump’s terms or attempt to negotiate new ones. With the two-month clock ticking, any rejection or delay could trigger U.S. or Israeli military responses, potentially sparking a wider regional conflict.
As of now, all eyes are on Oman, where quiet backchannel diplomacy could determine whether the U.S. and Iran inch closer to peaceful resolution or open confrontation.
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