Trump warns Iran of airstrikes and tariffs over nuclear deal failure

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential airstrikes and secondary tariffs if no agreement is reached over its nuclear programme, following ongoing talks and previous sanctions reimposition after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 deal.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran with the possibility of airstrikes and secondary tariffs if an agreement is not reached over its nuclear programme.

In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump mentioned that talks were ongoing between U.S. and Iranian officials but did not go into detail. "If they don’t reach a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said. "However, there's also a chance that I will impose secondary tariffs on them, just like I did four years ago."

During his first term (2017-2021), Trump pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers, which had placed strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. He also reinstated extensive U.S. sanctions. Since then, Iran has significantly exceeded the agreed limits in its uranium enrichment programme.

Tehran has rejected Trump’s warning to make a deal or face military action.

In response, Iran sent a message through Oman to Trump’s letter, in which he urged Tehran to engage in a new nuclear agreement, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, as reported by the official IRNA news agency on Thursday.

Western powers have expressed concerns that Iran's nuclear ambitions may include covert efforts to develop weapons capabilities by enriching uranium to levels higher than what they consider necessary for a peaceful civilian energy programme. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is solely for civilian energy purposes.

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