Trump Threatens Iran with Bombing and Secondary Tariffs Over Nuclear Deal
President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening unprecedented bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran fails to reach a new nuclear agreement with Washington.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump confirmed that U.S. and Iranian officials were in communication but did not provide further details. “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” he stated. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
Trump also hinted at imposing secondary tariffs on Iran, similar to those he enacted during his previous administration. “There’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago,” he added.
Iran Rejects Direct Talks but Keeps Indirect Channels Open
Iran responded to Trump’s threats through diplomatic channels in Oman, emphasizing its refusal to engage in direct negotiations while facing U.S. sanctions and military threats. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed this stance, stating that “direct negotiations with the U.S. have been rejected,” but added that indirect discussions could continue, as supported by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Despite the ongoing tensions, Iran maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian energy purposes. Western nations, however, accuse Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons by enriching uranium beyond levels needed for peaceful energy production.
Trump Weighs Secondary Tariffs on Iran and Russia
During the NBC interview, Trump also mentioned the possibility of extending secondary tariffs to Russia and other countries purchasing Iranian oil. These tariffs would mirror the recent measures imposed on buyers of Venezuelan oil through an executive order he signed last week.
Speaking later aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated that a final decision on secondary tariffs would depend on Iran’s willingness to negotiate. “We’ll probably give it a couple of weeks, and if we don’t see any progress, we’re going to put them on,” he told reporters. “We’re not putting them on right now. But if you remember, I did that six years ago, and it worked very well.”
Iran’s Nuclear Program: A Continued Standoff
Trump’s aggressive rhetoric comes amid ongoing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. During his first presidential term from 2017 to 2021, he withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a deal that had imposed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Following the withdrawal, Iran has significantly exceeded the agreed limits on uranium enrichment, escalating tensions with Western powers.
As of now, Tehran appears unmoved by Trump’s latest warnings, standing firm in its rejection of direct talks while keeping diplomatic channels open through intermediaries.
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Trump Threatens Iran with Bombing and Secondary Tariffs Over Nuclear Deal