US President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed threats to attack Iran, asserting that “time is running out” for a nuclear weapons deal after Tehran rejected ongoing talks. “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,” Trump said in a social media post, noting a massive armada was heading to Iran.
The US leader’s threats came after Iran’s top diplomat indicated the country would not engage under military pressure. “Conducting diplomacy through military threat cannot be effective or useful,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on television, emphasizing that any negotiations must set aside threats and unreasonable demands.
This escalation follows previous threats by Trump to strike Iran over its handling of anti-government protests in June, when the US backed Israel’s 12-day war aimed at weakening Iranian nuclear and missile capabilities. Despite recent tensions, both sides had maintained hopes for diplomacy until more recent statements from top Iranian officials hinting at a need for Arab support through diplomatic channels.
US Central Command confirmed that a strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln was now in Middle Eastern waters, underscoring continued US military presence despite Iran’s diplomatic outreach.