Trump Threatens Military Action as US-Iran Nuclear Talks Resume
As renewed nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States take shape, US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Tehran, demanding it abandon any aspirations of developing nuclear weapons or face military consequences.
“Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump declared during a press briefing, quoting Associated Press (AP) sources. The statement followed a key diplomatic meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and a senior Iranian official in Oman.
Expressing skepticism about Tehran’s intentions, Trump accused Iran of stalling the talks. “I think they’re tapping us along,” he said, implying that Iran might be delaying serious negotiations. When asked whether potential military strikes were on the table, Trump responded unequivocally: “Of course it does,” referring to military options, and warned that Iran was “fairly close” to developing a nuclear weapon.
Iran, however, has consistently denied any ambition to build nuclear arms, insisting its nuclear programme remains entirely peaceful and in line with international law.
Despite the tense rhetoric, both sides described the Oman meeting as “constructive” and “positive.” A second round of talks is set to be held in Rome on the upcoming Saturday, with hopes of establishing a framework for a new nuclear agreement.
In a parallel diplomatic effort, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to travel to Russia—a key player in the original 2015 nuclear deal—for consultations. China has also engaged with Tehran in recent weeks, signaling broader international involvement.
The backdrop to these developments includes years of faltering negotiations. Under President Joe Biden, US-Iran talks made little headway. The last significant progress occurred during President Barack Obama’s tenure, which resulted in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). That deal collapsed after Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018, prompting Iran to gradually reduce its compliance.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has adopted a more aggressive stance on Iran. In March, he reportedly sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging a return to negotiations and reiterating threats of military action if talks failed.
While the international community remains cautious, the latest round of diplomacy suggests that a new agreement could still be on the horizon—if tensions don’t derail the process first.
