Trump says US is close to Iran deal as he warns of military action if talks fail
US President Donald Trump has said the United States is close to reaching an agreement with Iran, while warning that he would use force if negotiations collapse. In comments reported on Sunday, he said he would "blow the hell out of them" if a deal is not reached, describing diplomacy as the preferred route but not ruling out military action. He also said Iranian assets would not be unfrozen before a ceasefire agreement is in place.
Sponsored
Trump said the talks had been under way for about three months and that much of the period had been covered by what he described as a "pretty good form of ceasefire". He said the two sides were "very close" to a deal and that the remaining issues did not appear to be major. He also said Iran had conceded that it would not have nuclear weapons, and said the US was determined to seize and destroy Iran's highly enriched uranium.
The remarks add to pressure on Tehran at a sensitive point in the negotiations. Trump said the US would act either through an agreement or by force, and described the latter as the easier path. He also referred to Iran's leadership as more rational than previous generations, while maintaining that the country had "no choice" but to make changes after decades of confrontation with Washington.
The comments matter because they combine a diplomatic opening with a direct military threat, leaving little room for ambiguity in the US position. Any agreement would have implications for Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions policy and the handling of frozen assets. The issue also carries wider regional significance because the talks are taking place against a backdrop of heightened tensions involving Iran and its adversaries.
Sponsored
The reported negotiations are part of a longer dispute over Iran's nuclear activities, which Washington has long said could be used to develop a weapon. Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear arms. In the latest remarks, Trump said the US wanted to remove and destroy more than 400 kg of highly enriched uranium, either on site or by taking it away, underlining the central role of the nuclear stockpile in the talks.
What remains unclear is how close the two sides are to resolving the outstanding points, and whether the warning of force is intended as leverage or a genuine near-term option. It is also not clear when any ceasefire arrangement might be finalised, or whether the question of frozen Iranian assets can be settled separately. The next developments to watch are any formal response from Tehran, further details on the remaining negotiating points, and whether the talks produce a written agreement or break down.
Sponsored
