‘Bad Things’ Ahead? Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran

Based on local media reports, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the commencement of nuclear negotiations with the United States. This follows threats from President Donald Trump of “bad things” to come if an agreement with the Islamic Republic is not reached.

The U.S. President has ordered the deployment of an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East and threatened military action in response to the Iranian authorities’ crackdown on anti-government demonstrations, which peaked last month. On Monday, Trump issued a warning that “bad things would happen” if an agreement is not reached, despite his insistence that he is optimistic Washington would “work something out” with Tehran.

While promising an unrestrained response to any aggression, Tehran has maintained that it seeks diplomacy. According to an unidentified official source cited by the Fars news agency on Monday, “President Pezeshkian has ordered the opening of talks with the United States” regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The state-run newspaper Iran and the reformist daily Shargh both carried the report.

Following mediation by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Oman, a conference to discuss the issue is expected to take place in Turkey this Friday, an Arab official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Additionally, according to two unidentified sources quoted by the U.S. news site Axios, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet with U.S. Ambassador Steve Witkoff in Istanbul to discuss a potential nuclear deal.

Trump previously warned that “time is running out” for Iran to negotiate an agreement on its nuclear program. While the West believes the program is intended to produce an atomic weapon, Tehran has consistently denied these claims.

“President Trump said no nuclear weapons, and we fully agree,” Araghchi stated in an interview with CNN on Sunday. “In return, we expect sanctions lifting; that could be a very good deal.”

Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, stated earlier Monday that Tehran is developing a framework and approach for talks to be finalized in the coming days, with communications currently being facilitated through regional actors. Araghchi visited Istanbul this week and consulted with peers in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan as part of Turkey’s diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.

During these meetings, Jordan’s top diplomat, Ayman Safadi, assured Araghchi that Jordan would “not be a battleground in any regional conflict or a launching pad for any military action against Iran.” Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has warned that any strike by the United States would trigger a “regional war.”

The recent protests, sparked by economic hardship in late December, grew in scope and ferocity throughout early January. Khamenei has characterized the rallies as a “coup” attempt, while authorities have labeled them “riots” orchestrated by Israel and the United States.