Trump Issues Stark Warning: Iran Must Ditch Nuclear Goals or Face Action

• Trump’s comments follow a meeting between a US envoy and an Iranian official.
• Both parties characterized Saturday’s discussions as “positive” and “constructive.”
• The US president stated that Iran is “fairly close” to developing a nuclear weapon.

President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, urging it to abandon any ambitions for nuclear weapon development or potentially face military action against its nuclear facilities, according to Reuters.

During a press conference on Monday, Trump accused Iran of deliberately delaying progress in nuclear discussions with the United States. “I think they’re just dragging us along,” he remarked, referencing a recent meeting in Oman between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and a senior Iranian official.

Representatives from both sides described Saturday’s meeting as “positive” and “constructive.” A second round of talks is expected to take place this coming weekend, likely in Rome, as indicated by a source familiar with the arrangements.

The discussions are primarily exploratory, aiming to establish a general framework for a potential agreement. However, Trump emphasized that any potential deal must ensure Iran renounces all intentions to develop nuclear weapons. “Iran must eliminate the idea of having nuclear arms. They cannot possess a nuclear weapon,” he stated.

When asked if military options against Iran’s nuclear sites were on the table, Trump responded affirmatively, stating, “Of course it does.” He added that Iran was “fairly close” to constructing a nuclear weapon and urged for immediate action to prevent dire outcomes.

Indirect negotiations between the US and Iran occurred during former President Joe Biden’s administration but yielded minimal results.

The last formal agreement—the international nuclear deal established in 2015—was negotiated by President Barack Obama, who was later succeeded by Trump, who withdrew the US from the pact during his first term.