Thursday, 29 January, 2026
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, urging Tehran to negotiate a nuclear deal or face a vastly escalated American military response.
“The next attack will be far worse. Don’t make that happen again,” Trump warned in a social media post, framing the moment as a final opportunity for diplomacy.
Calling on Iran to abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons, Trump said time was rapidly running out. “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 truly of the essence,” he wrote.
The Republican president, who withdrew the United States from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during his first term, reminded Iran that a previous warning from Washington had been followed by a military strike. He also claimed that another US “armada” was moving towards the region, signalling readiness for further action.
Iranian officials responded with defiance. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi 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.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, dismissed the idea of limited US military action as an “illusion,” warning that any strike would be treated as the start of a full-scale war. “Any military action by America, at any level, will be considered the beginning of war,” he said, threatening an immediate and unprecedented response against Israel and US allies.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have intensified sharply since mass protests erupted in Iran in late December, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation as rhetoric on both sides hardens.
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US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, urging Tehran to negotiate a nuclear deal or face a vastly escalated American military response.
“The next attack will be far worse. Don’t make that happen again,” Trump warned in a social media post, framing the moment as a final opportunity for diplomacy.
Calling on Iran to abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons, Trump said time was rapidly running out. “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 truly of the essence,” he wrote.
The Republican president, who withdrew the United States from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during his first term, reminded Iran that a previous warning from Washington had been followed by a military strike. He also claimed that another US “armada” was moving towards the region, signalling readiness for further action.
Iranian officials responded with defiance. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi 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.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, dismissed the idea of limited US military action as an “illusion,” warning that any strike would be treated as the start of a full-scale war. “Any military action by America, at any level, will be considered the beginning of war,” he said, threatening an immediate and unprecedented response against Israel and US allies.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have intensified sharply since mass protests erupted in Iran in late December, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation as rhetoric on both sides hardens.
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