WASHINGTON. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Sunday, threatening military action and additional economic sanctions if Tehran fails to reach a new nuclear agreement with Washington.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump addressed the ongoing tensions, stating that U.S. and Iranian officials were engaged in discussions, though he refrained from providing specific details. “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,” Trump said.
Iran has maintained its stance against direct negotiations with the United States, citing Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign and military threats as key reasons. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian confirmed that Iran had responded through Oman to a letter from Trump urging Tehran to engage in a new nuclear agreement.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed this policy on Sunday, stating, “Direct negotiations (with the U.S.) have been rejected, but Iran has always been involved in indirect negotiations, and now too, the Supreme Leader has emphasized that indirect negotiations can still continue.” Pezeshkian’s remarks reflect Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s position on handling diplomatic interactions with the U.S.
During the interview, Trump also threatened the imposition of secondary tariffs on Iran and Russia. Secondary tariffs are designed to penalize buyers of a targeted country’s goods, a measure that could significantly impact Iran’s economy. The former president recently signed an executive order authorizing similar tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil, raising speculation that similar actions could be taken against Tehran’s trading partners.
Trump has a history of enforcing economic pressure on Iran. During his first term (2017-2021), he withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. The agreement had placed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Following the withdrawal, Trump reinstated sweeping sanctions, prompting Iran to surpass JCPOA-imposed uranium enrichment limits to counteract U.S. pressure.
Western powers have long accused Iran of harboring ambitions to develop nuclear weapons by enriching uranium beyond levels necessary for civilian energy production. “The U.S. and its allies remain deeply concerned about Iran’s nuclear activities,” a senior State Department official commented, adding that “Tehran’s refusal to engage in direct talks only complicates diplomatic efforts.”
Iran has consistently denied any military intentions, asserting that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful energy purposes. However, its continued uranium enrichment beyond the JCPOA limits has fueled international skepticism.
Despite Tehran’s dismissal of direct negotiations, Trump’s warning suggests the possibility of military action if diplomatic efforts fail. His statement that Iran must “make a deal or face consequences” signals a hardline approach reminiscent of his administration’s previous policies toward the Islamic Republic.
As tensions escalate, the global community watches closely to see whether Iran will reconsider its stance or if the U.S. will follow through on its threats. The unfolding developments could have significant implications for regional stability and international diplomacy in the months ahead.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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