US President Donald Trump issued a stern ultimatum to Iran on Thursday, promising “very traumatic” consequences if the nation refuses a nuclear deal. This escalation follows a high-stakes meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who remains publicly skeptical about the potential agreement’s quality.
Speaking just one day after hosting Netanyahu at the White House, Trump expressed hope for a breakthrough within the next month. However, he emphasized that Washington’s patience has limits regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.
“We have to make a deal, otherwise it’s going to be very traumatic, very traumatic. I don’t want that to happen, but we have to make a deal,” Trump told reporters. He further warned that failure to reach terms would lead to “phase two,” a scenario he described as “very tough” for the Islamic Republic.
The President’s rhetoric carries weight, as he is currently considering deploying a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. Furthermore, he reminded the public of previous U.S. strikes on Iranian facilities during last July’s conflict.
Netanyahu Demands Harder Line
While Trump pushes for negotiations, Netanyahu traveled to Washington to demand more aggressive terms from the United States. Specifically, the Israeli leader wants any deal to address Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and its support for regional proxy groups.
“I will not hide from you that I expressed general skepticism regarding the quality of any agreement with Iran,” Netanyahu stated before departing. He insisted that a viable deal “must include the elements that are very important from our perspective,” noting that the threat extends beyond the nuclear issue.
Despite their strategic friction, Trump offered Netanyahu personal support regarding his ongoing corruption charges in Israel. He lashed out at Israeli President Isaac Herzog for refusing to grant the Prime Minister a pardon.
“You have a president that refuses to give him a pardon. I think that man should be ashamed of himself,” Trump said. Meanwhile, Iran continues to reject any expansion of the talks, maintaining that it will not submit to “excessive demands” from Washington.
