In a morning phone call with American news outlet CBS News, President Trump stated that if Iran does not agree to a new Nuclear Deal with the United States, there will be unprecedented bombings, a statement that was met by shock and concern from analysts.
If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing, and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.President Trump
Several weeks ago, U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, demanding that Iran engage in negotiations with the United States regarding its nuclear program. In addition to the nuclear program, Trump also insisted on negotiations regarding Iran's conventional ballistic missiles and its support for militant groups throughout the Middle East.
According to Axios, the letter included a 2-month deadline. If Iran did not agree to a new Nuclear Deal within this timeframe, the possibility of U.S. or Israeli military action against Iran's nuclear sites would 'increase dramatically'.
Iran's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that it received and studied Trump's letter, and that Iran has conveyed an official response through the Sultanate of Oman. According to official sources familiar with the content of Iran's response, the Islamic Republic affirmed that it will not negotiate directly with the United States under Trump's policy of maximum pressure, and that Iran rejects America's 'threat-based' approach. Additionally, Iran reportedly stated that the conditions of Trump's letter were unrealistic, asserting that Iran's missile program and its support for regional groups are a 'red line' and 'non-negotiable'.
In recent weeks, Iran has strongly dismissed the prospect of negotiations with the United States, especially after the military threats issued by President Trump, with Iran vowing retaliation in case of any act of aggression. Iranian officials will soon meet with European officials in Geneva to discuss issues related to the nuclear deal, and Iran will likely maintain a channel of communication with the US through regional intermediaries, such as Oman or Qatar.