Trump threatens Iran: Failure of the nuclear deal will be very painful
US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, asserting that failure to reach a new agreement on its nuclear program would have "very painful" consequences. These remarks came amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, as the United States pursues diplomatic efforts and exerts economic and military pressure to dissuade Tehran from its nuclear ambitions.
Explicit threats and coordination with allies
In response to a journalist's question regarding his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the Iranian nuclear issue, Trump stated clearly: "We have to reach an agreement, otherwise it will be very painful... I don't want that to happen, but we have to reach an agreement." The US president expressed his hope for a tangible outcome within the next month, emphasizing that failure to reach a solution would be "very painful for Iran.".
These statements come amid Washington's threats of military action, with Trump indicating he is considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East to increase military pressure on Tehran. Trump added, hinting at a new phase of escalation: "We'll see if we can reach an agreement with them, and if we can't, we'll have to move to phase two. Phase two will be very difficult for them.".
Background of the conflict and the nuclear agreement
To understand the depth of these statements, one must return to the historical context of the crisis. Since the United States’ unilateral withdrawal in 2018 from the nuclear agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) that the major powers concluded with Iran in 2015, Washington has pursued a policy of “maximum pressure.” This policy aims to cripple the Iranian economy through crippling sanctions to force Tehran to the negotiating table and accept a new agreement that includes longer-term restrictions on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as a change in its regional behavior.
Strategic importance and impact of the event
These developments are of paramount importance both regionally and internationally. Regionally, countries in the region, particularly Israel and the Gulf states, view Iran's nuclear activities with grave concern, believing that Tehran's acquisition of a nuclear weapon would alter the balance of power and threaten national security in the Middle East. Therefore, the US-Israeli coordination mentioned by Trump reflects a shared desire to contain Iranian influence and prevent it from crossing the nuclear threshold.
Internationally, the world is watching this confrontation with caution, as any military escalation in the Arabian Gulf region could have catastrophic consequences for global energy supplies and oil prices, in addition to threatening navigation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Trump's statements present the international community with two scenarios: either the success of diplomacy under pressure, or a slide into open confrontation that could have heavy costs for all parties.
