US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if Tehran fails to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Washington.
In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump stated that US and Iranian officials are currently in talks, but he did not provide further details.
“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing. But there’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago,” he said.
Trump’s warning comes after Iran surpassed the agreed limits on its uranium enrichment program, which was established in a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers.
The deal, which provided sanctions relief in exchange for strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear activities, was withdrawn from by the US in 2017.
Iran has refused to heed Trump’s warnings, instead sending a response to his letter urging a new nuclear deal through Oman.
Western powers have accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons capability, while Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for civilian energy purposes.
Trump’s threat of bombings and tariffs echoes his previous actions, having reimposed sweeping US sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from the 2015 deal.
The situation remains tense, with Iran refusing to back down and Trump insisting on a new deal.