‘Make a deal or face bombing like never before': Donald Trump issues ultimatum to Iran over nuclear deal

US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the country will face severe consequences, including bombing and economic pressure, if it does not agree to a new nuclear deal.
Speaking in an interview with NBC News, Trump said, “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
Trump’s remarks come as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate over Iran’s nuclear programme. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently confirmed that Iran rejected direct negotiations with the US but left open the possibility of indirect talks through Oman. This response followed a letter from Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging negotiations.
Trump, who withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions under his "maximum pressure" strategy, has continued to push for a fresh agreement. He has also suggested secondary tariffs on Iran if it refuses to engage.
The situation has been further complicated by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The US has been carrying out airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, while Iran has targeted Israel with missile and drone attacks, prompting retaliatory strikes. Iranian officials, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, have warned that any US military action could ignite a broader regional conflict. “If they violate Iran’s sovereignty, it will be like a spark in a gunpowder depot,” Qalibaf said.
Iran has repeatedly insisted that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but reports from the UN’s nuclear watchdog indicate that Tehran has been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. Meanwhile, Trump has given Iran a two-month deadline to reach a deal, warning that if diplomatic efforts fail, alternative measures will be taken.
Iran’s reluctance to engage with Trump is also linked to past conflicts, including the 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Tehran has reportedly sought revenge, with US officials alleging that Iran plotted to assassinate Trump. In response, Trump has warned that any attempt on his life would trigger devastating retaliation.
Possibility of indirect negotitations
Iran’s leadership is weighing its options as tensions with the US escalate, particularly in light of Trump’s ultimatum. While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has rejected direct negotiations, Tehran remains open to indirect talks through intermediaries like Oman. However, Iran's cautious approach is influenced by both internal and external pressures. Domestically, economic struggles and public dissatisfaction add to the challenge, while externally, heightened regional conflicts and the US's military presence in the Middle East pose a growing threat. The recent escalation of hostilities involving Iranian-backed groups has only reinforced Washington’s resolve.
'No negotiations with such a government': Khamenei
Speaking in February, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said that negotiations with the US over its nuclear program “are not intelligent, wise or honorable.” While he did not explicitly ban talks, he added, “there should be no negotiations with such a government,” the Associated Press reported.
Khamenei’s remarks come after US President Donald Trump called for a “maximum pressure” approach, saying, “We don’t want to be tough on anybody… But they just can’t have a nuclear bomb.” He later posted, “I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement… We should start working on it immediately.”
Khamenei referenced the abandoned nuclear deal, saying, “The very person who is in office today tore up the agreement… This is an experience we must learn from.”