U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Iran to resume negotiations over its nuclear program, warning that failure to reach an agreement would result in a far more severe U.S. military response.
Posting on social media, Trump said Iran must quickly return to talks and agree to a deal that permanently prevents it from obtaining nuclear weapons. He stressed that time was running out and described the situation as increasingly urgent.
Trump reminded Tehran that his previous warning was followed by military action in June, adding that any future strike would be significantly more damaging. He also reiterated that a large U.S. naval force was moving toward Iran.
Iran Threatens Retaliation, Signals Military Readiness
Iranian officials responded sharply, warning that any U.S. military action would be met with force. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran would target the United States, Israel and their supporters if attacked.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran’s armed forces were fully prepared to respond immediately and decisively to any aggression. At the same time, he reiterated that Tehran remains open to a nuclear agreement that is fair, mutually beneficial and free from threats or pressure, while safeguarding Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology.
Araqchi also said he had not held recent discussions with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, nor had Iran requested new negotiations, according to state media.
U.S. Warships Move Into the Region
Trump said a U.S. naval group led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was approaching Iranian waters. Two U.S. officials confirmed earlier this week that the carrier and its supporting warships had arrived in the Middle East.
The deployment began after ships were redirected from the Asia-Pacific region amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. The buildup followed weeks of unrest in Iran, where authorities carried out a violent crackdown on protests over economic hardship and political repression.
Pressure Grows as Protests Subside
Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States could intervene if Iran continued to kill protesters. While nationwide demonstrations have since subsided, he has said Washington would act if Tehran restarted its nuclear activities following June airstrikes by U.S. and Israeli forces on key nuclear facilities.
Earlier on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that Iran’s leadership appeared weaker than at any point in recent years and that its economy was collapsing. He predicted that protests could re-emerge.
However, U.S. intelligence assessments suggest that while economic conditions remain dire, Iran’s senior leadership has so far avoided major internal divisions, according to officials familiar with the reports.
Sanctions and Diplomatic Pressure Intensify
A U.S. official said Trump has not yet decided whether to authorize military action, but believes Iran’s current vulnerability creates an opportunity to push for denuclearization and broader concessions.
Meanwhile, European pressure on Tehran is increasing. The European Union is expected to move toward designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, following support from France. EU foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Brussels to approve new sanctions in response to Iran’s handling of the protests.