Trump warns Iran: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran of a destructive attack if the country fails to reach a nuclear deal, calling it a deal that
would be “good for all parties.” On the social media platform X, President Trump wrote: “Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties. Time is running out; it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL!…” He warned Iran that the US could give it the same treatment as Venezuela. “A massive armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela. Like with Venezuela, it is ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfil its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.” Additionally, two US officials told Reuters on Monday that the Lincoln and its accompanying warships had already arrived in the Middle East, signalling a significant military deployment by Washington. The naval strike group began moving from the Asia-Pacific region last week, Reuters reported, amid rising US-Iran tensions following a violent crackdown on protests across Iran in recent weeks. As US troops were being reinforced across the Middle East, the Republican leader, who abandoned the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement during his first term, recalled that his previous final warning to Tehran was followed by a military operation in June. “The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again,” Trump wrote.
Iran warns of retaliation against US, Israel over any military action
Iran has warned that any military action by the United States would prompt retaliatory strikes against US interests, Israel, and their allies, according to comments by Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters reported.In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Shamkhani said Tehran would respond broadly if Washington launched an attack, signalling heightened tensions amid escalating rhetoric between the two countries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also issued a warning, saying the country’s armed forces were on high alert and ready to respond “immediately and powerfully” to any aggression, Reuters reported.
At the same time, Araqchi reiterated that Iran remains open to a nuclear agreement, provided it is fair, mutually beneficial and free from coercion. He said such a deal must recognise Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology while guaranteeing that it does not seek nuclear weapons.
Araqchi also said he had not been in contact with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days and had not requested negotiations, according to state media cited by Reuters.
