Make nuclear deal or fear ‘far worse’, Trump warns Iran
US President Donald Trump has called on Iran to come to the table and reach an agreement on nuclear weapons, otherwise the next US attack would be much worse, but Tehran has said it will respond like never before if that happens.
“We hope Iran ‘Comes to the Table’ quickly and negotiates a fair and equitable deal that is good for all parties, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Time is running out, this is really important!” Trump wrote in his social media post:
The Republican US president, who withdrew from the nuclear agreement signed by world powers with Tehran in 2015 during his first term in the White House, noted that a military attack was carried out in June after his last warning to Iran.
“The next attack will be much worse! Don’t do this again,” Trump wrote. He also repeated that a US “armada” was advancing towards the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations responded in kind.
“The last time the US plunged into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it squandered US$7 trillion ($A10 trillion) and claimed the lives of more than 7,000 Americans,” said an
“Iran is ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests; BUT IF OBJECTED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he “has not been in contact with US special envoy Steve Witkoff or requested negotiations in recent days,” state media reported Wednesday.
Trump said that US naval forces under the command of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln are approaching Iran. Two US officials told Reuters on Monday that the Lincoln and support warships had reached the Middle East.
The warships began operating from the Asia-Pacific region last week as tensions between the US and Iran rose following a bloody crackdown by religious authorities on protests across Iran in recent weeks.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene if Iran continues killing protesters, but demonstrations across the country have since subsided due to economic deprivations and political pressure.
He said the United States would take action if Tehran continued its nuclear program, following airstrikes on major nuclear facilities by Israeli and US forces in June.
