Trump Issues Warning to Iran Amid Ongoing Negotiations
President Trump has cautioned the Iranian government that failing to accept a proposed deal could lead the U.S. to resume bombing, targeting “every” bridge and power plant in the country.
As the two-week ceasefire with Iran nears its end, the President announced that U.S. peace negotiators would return to Islamabad, Pakistan, for continued discussions.
Trump criticized Tehran for “totally violating” the ceasefire by attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz shortly after agreeing to keep the critical waterway open. He claimed Iranian forces targeted both a French ship and a British cargo vessel.
However, he seemed to play down the situation’s significance, suggesting that Iran’s actions were inadvertently beneficial to the U.S. by directing ships to American ports for fuel purchases.
“They are helping us without even realizing it, while they lose around $500 million a day from the closures! The U.S. isn’t losing anything on this. In fact, more ships are heading to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska to load goods for the Revolutionary Guards. Always trying to play tough!” he remarked.
Earlier this month, J.D. Vance led negotiations in Pakistan, though reports were mixed on whether he would return for this round. Initial accounts suggested Trump chose to retain Vance due to national security concerns, but later reports confirmed he would indeed lead the team in Islamabad.
The President stated that the U.S. was proposing a “very fair and reasonable deal” that includes demanding Iran turn over its stockpile of enriched uranium, a condition Tehran has yet to entertain.
“I hope they accept it, because if they don’t, we’ll destroy every power plant and bridge in Iran. No more Mr. Nice Guy! They’ll fall soon, easily, and if they refuse to negotiate, it will be my honor to do what any other president should have done with Iran over the last 47 years,” he asserted.
“It’s time for the Iranian killing machine to end!” he concluded.
Past threats to target Iranian infrastructure have led the regime to agree to ceasefires, but it remains uncertain whether Iran will comply with demands concerning nuclear materials.
During a diplomatic forum in Turkey, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh pushed back against what he termed “maximalist” demands from the U.S., asserting, “We are not willing to accept that this is a non-starter.”
Other reports indicated that a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian shipping could devastate the country’s oil industry, crucial for its economy. Iran’s storage facilities are nearing capacity due to the lockdown and could hit full capacity within two weeks, leading to potential irreversible damage and significantly impacting oil production for years.
