US warns Iran to dismantle nuclear program or face consequences
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz demanded Iran dismantle its nuclear program, emphasizing verifiable abandonment of uranium enrichment and ballistic missile development. The U.S. warned of consequences if Iran refuses.
The Trump administration resumed its “maximum pressure” strategy, combining military and economic measures to counter Iran’s influence.
Iran rejected the U.S. proposal, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissing it as “deception” and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi signaling potential talks.
Speaking on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” Sunday, March 23, Waltz said the Trump administration expects Iran to abandon any nuclear ambitions in a way that is verifiable by the international community.
"It's time for Iran to walk away completely from its desire to have a nuclear weapon," says White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, telling @margbrennan the Trump administration is seeking the "full dismantlement" of Iran's nuclear program.
He emphasized that the program includes uranium enrichment, weaponization efforts and ballistic missile development.
How has the Trump administration framed the ultimatum?
Waltz said the U.S. position is not a partial rollback or a return to previous agreements but a demand for Iran to walk away entirely from its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
“All options are on the table,” Waltz said. “Give it up, or there will be consequences.”
He described Iran’s support for militant groups and its regional behavior as unacceptable, warning that a nuclear-armed Iran could spark a wider arms race in the Middle East.
What prompted the renewed pressure?
The remarks come as President Donald Trump resumed his administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy, which includes military and economic measures to counter Iran’s regional influence and nuclear progress.
According to Axios, Trump recently sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offering a deal to avoid further escalation. It gave a two-month window to respond.
How has Iran responded?
Iran’s leadership dismissed the U.S. proposal.
Khamenei rejected the letter as “a deception” and accused Washington of using diplomacy to tighten sanctions.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran would reply to the “threats and opportunities” outlined in the letter but warned that talks would not proceed unless the U.S. changed its pressure tactics. Araqchi also signaled that the original 2015 nuclear deal could serve as a model, though Iran’s nuclear capabilities have advanced significantly since that time.
What is the status of Iran’s nuclear activity?
Iran continues to expand its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency was recently notified that Tehran plans to significantly increase its uranium enrichment to levels nearing weapons grade.
Iran maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. However, U.N. nuclear watchdog officials have said time is running out to reach a new agreement to rein in Iran’s activities.
What’s next?
Diplomatic options remain, according to Waltz, but the administration said it is prepared to act unilaterally if Iran does not comply.
With rising tensions in the region and expanded military operations elsewhere in the Middle East, the U.S.-Iran nuclear standoff is entering a new phase with potentially far-reaching consequences.
Trump grants AG power to target ‘frivolous’ lawsuits against administration
President Trump has given Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Homeland Security secretary the power to sanction law firms that file “frivolous” lawsuits against his administration. The order came down in a memo on Friday.
The powers also allow them to recommend revoking attorneys’ security clearances and law firms’ government contracts.
Nearly two dozen civil rights organizations have banded together to voice opposition to the order.
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President Donald Trump has authorized Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to sanction law firms that file what they deem to be “frivolous” lawsuits against the Trump administration.
What do the new powers do?
In a memo on Friday, March 21, titled “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court,” the White House detailed the powers, giving Bondi the ability to recommend revoking attorneys’ security clearances or terminating law firms’ federal contracts if she deems their lawsuits against the administration “unreasonable” or “vexatious.”
Is this already happening?
The memo comes after the Trump administration issued executive orders against three law firms. The first provided pro bono legal services to former special counsel Jack Smith in his indictment against President Trump.
Another of the firms represented Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and worked with an opposition research firm, which compiled a discredited dossier against Trump. The third was a former firm partner who tried to build a criminal case against Trump.
How are civil rights groups responding?
In a statement, a group of 22 civil rights organizations, including the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union, said the memo is “the latest in a rash of statements and actions intended to chill dissent, avoid accountability and weaponize the government to attack opponents of this administration and its lawless actions.”
Venezuela faces more sanctions if it doesn’t accept deported citizens: Rubio
Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tuesday that Venezuela will face more sanctions if it doesn’t accept deported citizens from the United States. Rubio emphasized that the repatriation of citizens is non-negotiable.
His comments come as the Trump administration ramps up deportations and ends a residency program for 350,000 Venezuelans.
Over the weekend, El Salvador received 238 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. A U.S. district judge also ruled against returning two planes, a decision senior White House officials called “unlawful.”
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, March 18, that Venezuela will face more sanctions if the country does not take back its deported citizens.
“Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the U.S. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation. Nor does it merit any reward,” Rubio said.
Rubio’s message comes as the Trump administration pushes to increase the removal of migrants living in the country illegally and end a temporary residency program for 350,000 Venezuelans legally allowed to reside in the U.S. while seeking asylum.
Unless the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro “accepts a consistent flow of deportation flights without further excuses or delays,” Rubio added, “the U.S. will impose new, severe, and escalating sanctions.”
Last Thursday, March 13, Richard Grenell, the special presidential envoy for the mission of the United States, wrote on X that Venezuela had agreed to resume flights on Friday for deported citizens living illegally in the United States.
Last month, Trump terminated the U.S. permit allowing Chevron to pump and export Venezuelan oil. The decision cut off a key financial lifeline for Venezuela.
Over the weekend, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele confirmed his country received 238 members of Venezuela’s gang, Tren de Aragua.
On Saturday, March 15, a U.S. district court judge ordered the two planes to return to the United States. However, senior White House officials called the order “unlawful,” saying the directive came while the planes were over international waters. That judge was subsequently threatened with impeachment.
Swedish crime ring sanctioned by US for Iran-backed violence
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned the Sweden-based Foxtrot Network, led by Rawa Majid, for illicit drug trafficking and violent attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets. Majid allegedly collaborated with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
The Foxtrot Network orchestrated a January 2024 attack on the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, classified as a terrorist act by Swedish authorities.
The U.S. sanctions seek to freeze assets linked to the network and Majid, prohibiting U.S. citizens and businesses from engaging with the group.
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The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned the Foxtrot Network, a Sweden-based transnational criminal organization, for its involvement in illicit drug trafficking and attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe.
What attack did the Foxtrot Network allegedly carry out?
In January 2024, the Foxtrot Network reportedly orchestrated an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm. Law enforcement agencies indicated that Majid acted under orders from Iranian intelligence.
Swedish authorities classified the attack as a terrorist act after finding a “dangerous object” at the embassy. Previous reports also linked Iranian operatives to Swedish gang members recruited for violent acts against Israeli interests.
Who is Rawa Majid, and what is his role?
Majid, known as the “Kurdish Fox,” is a Swedish-Turkish dual national accused of leading one of Sweden’s most violent criminal organizations. According to reports, Iranian authorities arrested Majid and gave him the option to cooperate with MOIS or face imprisonment.
INTERPOL
U.S. officials say Majid chose to work with Iranian intelligence, strengthening ties between the criminal network and Iran.
What other crimes is the Foxtrot Network accused of?
The Foxtrot Network is one of Sweden’s most notorious gangs, known for drug and weapons trafficking, contract killings and violent attacks.
Authorities say the group regularly uses teenagers to carry out attacks and has contributed to Sweden’s rising gang violence. The network also reportedly traffics arms and drugs across multiple European countries.
How do the U.S. sanctions impact the Foxtrot Network?
The sanctions freeze all U.S.-based assets linked to the Foxtrot Network and Majid, prohibiting U.S. citizens and businesses from engaging in transactions with the group.
Trump-sanctioned ICC prosecutor pressed assault victim to recant: Report
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan faces allegations of pressuring an accuser to recant sexual harassment claims, which he has denied. The ICC learned of the allegations but did not act due to the victim’s hesitance.
Amid these allegations, Khan announced arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. It drew condemnation from Israeli allies, including the U.S.
President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the ICC. Trump criticized its jurisdiction and actions against the U.S. and Israel, as neither country is a party to the Rome Statute.
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A British prosecutor who sought international criminal charges against Israeli and Palestinian leaders allegedly harassed a woman. She claimed he sexually abused her and then tried to get her to deny the matter.
Karim Khan is a British attorney who has served as chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court. He allegedly bombarded his accuser to recant her sexual abuse claims, according to the U.K.’s Daily Mail.
What were the allegations?
Sources tell the British news outlet that Khan repeatedly pressed his alleged victim for more than five months to back away from the allegations of sexual harassment she had accused him of. He allegedly pushed for her to write a letter disavowing the claims.
Khan has repeatedly denied the accusations.
The ICC was made aware of the harassment claims against Khan from a third party in May 2024. However, the ICC didn’t take action due to the victim’s hesitance to cooperate with the investigation. An October 2024 statement from the president of the Assembly of States Parties acknowledged the allegations of misconduct.
“The Court has a zero-tolerance policy towards prohibited conduct, such as harassment, including sexual harassment, discrimination and abuse of authority,” said President Päivi Kaukoranta.
Amid these allegations, Khan had announced arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
How did the US respond to the warrants?
The filing brought swift condemnation from Israel’s allies, including the United States. President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the ICC in February.
“The ICC has, without a legitimate basis, asserted jurisdiction over and opened preliminary investigations concerning personnel of the United States and certain of its allies, including Israel, and has further abused its power by issuing baseless arrest warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant,” the announcement said. “The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel, as neither country is party to the Rome Statute or a member of the ICC.”
Russia made $254B from fossil fuel exports, the West contributed to that total
Russia earned nearly $254 billion from fossil fuel exports in 2024, bringing its total revenue since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine to $887 billion. This exceeds the estimated $211 billion Moscow spent on the war during the same period.
Despite Western sanctions, Russian oil products continue to reach G7 countries through third-party nations like India and Turkey, with approximately $18.8 billion worth of refined oil imported from these locations in 2024.
Analysts suggest tighter restrictions on these third-party nations could reduce Russia’s energy sales.
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Russia reportedly generated nearly $254 billion in fossil fuel revenue in 2024. That’s according to a report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and the campaign group B4Ukraine. The group also found that since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has amassed a total of $887 billion from fossil fuel sales.
How do These revenues compare to Russia’s war spending?
These earnings exceed the estimated $211 billion that the U.S. Department of Defense believes Russia spent on its war effort between 2022 and 2024.
Despite sanctions imposed by Western nations in response to the war, Russian fossil fuel products remain profitable. Some revenue came from Western markets through third-party nations.
How much of Russia’s fossil fuel revenue comes from the West?
According to the report, six refineries in India and Turkey processed Russian crude oil, with G7 countries importing over $18.8 billion worth of refined oil products from these facilities last year. Approximately half of these products were believed to be sourced from Russian crude. It contributed an estimated $4.2 billion in tax revenue for the Russian government.
Between 2022 and 2024, foreign businesses contributed approximately $60 billion in taxes to Russia, with American companies accounting for $1.2 billion in 2023 alone.
What happens next?
Analysts suggest additional restrictions on third-party nations involved in processing Russian crude could impact Moscow’s economy. They note that increased pressure from the U.S. on these countries could influence their purchasing decisions, potentially leading to declines in Russian energy sales.
Trump urged to sanction Iran, Hamas to cut off terrorists’ funding
Five bipartisan Senators want President Trump to sanction Iran and its proxies to cut off Hamas’ funding. They say the terrorist organization cannot remain in control of the Gaza Strip.
Israel said the ceasefire with Hamas will end if all remaining hostages aren’t released by Saturday.
Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement by engaging in military operations that resulted in deaths.
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Five bipartisan Senators are urging President Donald Trump to use economic sanctions and other diplomatic tools to cut off Hamas’ sources of funding. The senators say the terrorist organization cannot retain any political or military control of the Gaza Strip, as the fragile ceasefire with Israel is on the brink of collapse.
“Eliminating Hamas ought to be common ground as a paramount goal,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said. “Hamas is an anathema — to Palestinians and Israelis alike, indeed to all who live in the region.”
Sens. Blumenthal, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduced the resolution calling on the president to take actions to stop Hamas’ sources of funding, specifically from Iran and Iranian proxies. The resolution also supports Israel’s defense against attacks.
“One of the defining moments for the future of the Middle East and the world at large is to state directly and with moral clarity that Hamas –– a terrorist organization –– will no longer have political or military control of Gaza at the end of this conflict,” Graham said in a statement.
The resolution was introduced shortly after Israel announced that its ceasefire with Hamas would end if all hostages were not returned by Saturday, Feb. 15. The ceasefire, which began Jan. 19, required Hamas to release all remaining hostages within six weeks.
“Hamas is a terrorist organization backed by Iran, and it is responsible for committing the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust,” Sen. Rosen said in a statement. “In order to best ensure the safety and security of Israel, as well as the Palestinian people, Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in power in Gaza in any capacity.”
Previous Senate resolutions supporting Israel have been approved nearly unanimously.
Trump sanctions International Criminal Court over Israel investigation
President Donald Trump signed another executive order Thursday, Feb. 6. The new order imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel, a close U.S. ally.
The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was at the White House this week, for alleged war crimes over his military response in Gaza after the Hamas terror attack on Israel in October 2023.
The attack left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and around 250 taken hostage in Gaza. Israel then unleashed a ground and air response, which the Hamas-run health ministry said has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel are members of or recognize the International Criminal Court.
Trump’s order said the U.S. would impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC’s “transgressions.” These could include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and their families to enter the U.S.
Legal battles brew over Trump executive orders
President Donald Trump started his new term with a flurry of executive orders, some of which are now facing lawsuits. And as crews remove more wreckage from the Potomac River after the deadly plane and helicopter crash last week, investigators are getting some answers. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Feb. 7, 2025.
Legal battles brew over Trump executive orders
It’s been just over two weeks since President Donald Trump took office, and he has already signed more than 50 executive orders to reshape the federal government. Now, many of them are facing legal pushback.
On Thursday, Feb. 6, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s offer to buy out federal workers. The workers were told to return to the office while court proceedings over its legalization played out.
Initially, federal employees had until 11:59 p.m. Thursday to decide whether to take the buyout offer. That deadline has now been extended to Monday, Feb. 10, and it might be pushed back even further.
The buyout would allow federal workers to leave their jobs while still receiving benefits through the end of September. Federal unions have strongly urged members not to accept the package, questioning its legality and the Trump administration’s ability to follow through on its promises.
The White House said at least 40,000 federal employees have already opted into the deferred resignation program.
The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union of U.S. government workers, has filed a lawsuit seeking a federal court to stop the shutdown of USAID. The union argues that the president cannot shut down an agency enshrined in congressional legislation. This comes after the Trump administration presented a plan Thursday to cut USAID staffing worldwide to dismantle the agency dramatically.
The plan would employ fewer than 300 USAID workers out of thousands. The administration believes that USAID is fraught with unnecessary spending on projects and causes that Americans are unaware of.
Meanwhile, another lawsuit is brewing over the Treasury Department’s decision to allow Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers access to the federal government’s massive payment and collections system. A group of retirees and union members said the move violates federal privacy laws because it gives DOGE access to the data stored in the system.
Those challenging the Trump administration’s decision want an order barring DOGE from accessing the data and requiring the return of any harvested data.
Another executive order facing pushback is Trump’s decision to end birthright citizenship in the U.S. Birthright citizenship occurs when a child is born in the United States and automatically becomes an American citizen regardless of the child’s or parents’ nationality or because at least one of their parents was a U.S. citizen at the time of the person’s birth.
Several lawsuits are now on the books, challenging the order. This week, federal judges in Maryland and Washington state issued nationwide preliminary injunctions blocking the order from taking effect. The Department of Justice has appealed the Washington decision.
A pair of federal judges have also temporarily blocked a federal aid funding freeze, which the Trump administration directed in response to his executive orders.
Additionally, two judges blocked the transfer of three transgender women prisoners to a male prison after a Trump executive order affecting transgender inmates. It said the federal Bureau of Prisons is now required to ensure that “males are not detained in women’s prisons.”
Trump sanctions International Criminal Court over Israel investigation
The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was at the White House this week, for alleged war crimes over his military response in Gaza after the Hamas terror attack on Israel in October 2023.
The attack left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and around 250 taken hostage in Gaza. Israel then unleashed a ground and air response, which the Hamas-run health ministry said has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel are members of or recognize the ICC.
Trump’s order said the U.S. would impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC’s “transgressions.” These could include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and their families to enter the U.S.
FBI turns over list of Jan. 6 investigators to Justice Department
Acting Director Brian Driscoll emailed employees Thursday to inform them that the FBI has given the Justice Department the names of employees who worked on cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. This follows a back-and-forth between bureau leaders who sought to protect identities and the DOJ. The FBI complied by providing the names through a classified system to protect employees from being publicly identified.
Earlier this week, the bureau withheld the names of thousands of workers and identified them based only on their employee ID numbers, job titles and roles in the Jan. 6 investigations.
Several FBI employees and the agency’s union sued the Justice Department, asking a judge to ensure their names were not released outside the DOJ. They said they fear for their safety if their identities are made public.
Search underway in Alaska for missing plane carrying 10 people
The search continues in Alaska for a Cessna aircraft carrying 10 people that went missing Thursday afternoon.
Alaska state troopers said the plane, operated by Bering Air, was headed from Unalakleet to Nome. The Norton Sound Inlet separates both cities in western Alaska. Crews are conducting ground and air searches as weather and visibility permit to find the missing aircraft.
The plane’s disappearance comes as investigations continue into two recent deadly U.S. aviation incidents. A medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia last Friday, Jan. 31, killing the six people on board and another person on the ground, and last Wednesday, Jan. 29, a passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair, killing 67 people.
Black Hawk wreckage from deadly midair collision removed from Potomac River
Workers pulled the wreckage of the Black Hawk involved in last week’s deadly midair collision with a passenger jet from the Potomac River on Thursday. Crews also removed additional parts of the American Airlines plane, most of which was pulled from the river earlier this week.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the cause of the crash, said it is still looking for the helicopter’s right engine and tail rotor.
NTSB, in coordination with SUPSALV, recovered the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk today. Additional information in today's investigative update for the Jan. 29 mid-air collision near DCA: https://t.co/C01PwrsmIFpic.twitter.com/gfsgRh7lgN
After a closed-door briefing by the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters that the helicopter was flying with its safety system turned off. Cruz chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees the airline industry.
He said senators were told the helicopter’s automatic dependent surveillance broadcast system was turned off. The system provides detailed information to track airplane locations.
Military aircraft are allowed to fly with that system off. However, since the crash involved a training flight, Cruz said, “Unless there was a compelling national security reason for turning it off, that does not seem justified.”
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters investigators had not confirmed whether the helicopter was equipped with that technology.
Americans gear up for Super Bowl weekend
It is Super Bowl weekend. Come Sunday, Feb. 9, millions of Americans will gather with friends, family members and neighbors to watch the biggest NFL game of the year — along with all the commercials and the Kendrick Lamar halftime show.
As for Super Bowl LIX itself, AFC champions the Kansas City Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be going for their third straight Super Bowl championship. They’ll face off against the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley and NFC champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kickoff is around 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday in New Orleans.
For those making it an all-day event, the annual Puppy Bowl is back.
The three-hour made-for-TV event is a miniature football game dogs play on a 20 by 30-foot field. The pups, all between three and six months old, score touchdowns when they cross the goal-line with a toy in their mouth.
The goal of the show is to encourage pet adoption. This year’s Puppy Bowl pits Team Ruff against Team Fluff and will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states.
Trump orders Iran to be ‘obliterated’ if he’s assassinated, renews sanctions
President Donald Trump warned Iran of a “massive retaliatory strike” if they attempt to assassinate him. Trump issued the warning while signing an executive order reimposing sanctions on Iran.
The sanctions revive Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran, amid ongoing threats against Trump and former administration officials.
Trump expressed willingness to pursue diplomatic talks with Iran, seeking a “verified nuclear peace agreement” and calling for immediate negotiations.
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President Donald Trump said he has issued orders for the U.S. military to launch a massive retaliatory strike on Iran if he is assassinated. Speaking at the White House while signing an executive order to reimpose sanctions on Tehran, Trump warned that Iran “would be obliterated” if it carried out an attack against him.
“If they did that, they would be obliterated,” Trump said. “That would be the end. I’ve left instructions. If they do it, they get obliterated. There won’t be anything left, and they shouldn’t be able to do it. And Biden should have said that, but he never did. I don’t know why. Lack of intelligence, perhaps.”
Sanctions reimposed on Iran
The executive order restores elements of Trump’s previous “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, reimplementing sanctions lifted under past agreements. The move follows ongoing concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and its activities in the Middle East.
U.S. officials have tracked Iranian threats against Trump and other former administration officials for years. Some of those officials, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser John Bolton, had their government security details revoked after Trump returned to office.
Iranian threats and past tensions
The Justice Department previously charged an Afghan national, Farhad Shakeri, with allegedly conspiring with Iran to assassinate Trump before the 2024 presidential election. Shakeri remains at large in Iran, according to U.S. authorities.
Iran has long vowed retaliation for the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike ordered by Trump. Iranian authorities have sought criminal charges against Trump, Pompeo and former CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie over the operation.
Trump suggests diplomatic talks still possible
While promising harsh consequences for any attempt on his life, Trump also signaled openness to negotiations with Tehran.
“The Iran situation, hopefully … I’m going to sign it, but hopefully we’re not going to have to use it very much,” he said. “We will see whether or not we can arrange or work out a deal with Iran and everybody can live together, and maybe that’s possible and maybe it’s not possible. So I’m signing this, and I’m unhappy to do it, but I really have not so much choice because we have to be strong and firm. And I hope that it’s not going to have to be used in any great measure at all.”
Iran rejects US sanctions and military threats
Iran dismissed Trump’s comments. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the policy a “failed experiment” and stated that the reimposition of sanctions would “end in failure,” as it did during Trump’s first term.
Despite escalating tensions, Trump later denied reports that the U.S. and Israel were planning a military strike on Iran, saying he preferred to negotiate a new nuclear deal instead.
Trump calls for new nuclear agreement
Trump posted on Truth Social expressing his desire for a “verified nuclear peace agreement” and urged immediate talks with Iran.
“I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon. Reports that the United States, working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereens, ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED.”
The statement followed a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring Tehran never acquires a nuclear weapon.
Iran expresses concerns over Israel’s role in negotiations
Iran’s foreign minister maintained that “maximum pressure” had failed before and would fail again.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian downplayed the impact of sanctions, calling Iran a “powerful, resource-rich country” that could navigate economic challenges.
