US President, Donald Trump warned on Sunday that Iran could face bombing and secondary tariffs if it failed to reach an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.
Speaking in his first remarks since Iran declined direct negotiations with the United States last week, Trump told NBC News that discussions were ongoing between US and Iranian officials but did not provide further details.
“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 stated in a telephone interview.
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He also indicated that secondary tariffs could be imposed if Iran refused to negotiate, referencing past economic measures.
“There’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago,” he added.
Iranian officials responded through Oman to a letter from Trump, in which he urged Tehran to agree to a new nuclear deal.
Iran, however, maintained its stance of refusing direct negotiations while under US pressure and military threats, according to Tehran’s foreign minister.
Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated this position on Sunday. “Direct negotiations (with the US) 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.”
During the NBC interview, Trump also mentioned the possibility of secondary tariffs on Russia and Iran, though he did not elaborate.
Last week, he signed an executive order authorizing similar tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil.
During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. The deal had placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
He then reimposed broad economic sanctions, leading Iran to expand its uranium enrichment beyond the agreed limits.
Western nations argue that Iran’s nuclear advancements suggest an effort to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains that its program is solely for civilian energy purposes.
Despite Trump’s warnings, Iran has so far refused to alter its position.
(Reuters)
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