Trump Warns Iran as Tensions Escalate Again

PARIS: (Web Desk) – US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran that time was running out to avert possible American military action, as Tehran rejected negotiations being conducted under the threat of force.

Trump has not ruled out launching another attack on Iran following this month’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests. The warning comes after the 12-day conflict in June between Iran and Israel, a war supported and joined by the United States. A US naval strike group, described by Trump as an “armada” and led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, has since been deployed to Middle Eastern waters.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump urged Iran to negotiate over its nuclear programme, which Western powers believe is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.
“Hopefully Iran will quickly come to the table and negotiate a fair and equitable deal — no nuclear weapons. Time is running out,” Trump wrote, adding that any future US strikes would be “far worse” than previous attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities during the June conflict.

Iran, however, dismissed the approach. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that diplomacy under military threats would neither be effective nor productive. Speaking on state television, he stated that negotiations could only move forward if threats, excessive demands and “illogical issues” were abandoned. He also denied having any recent contact with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, stressing that Iran had not sought talks.

Trump Threatens Higher Tariffs on South Korean Goods

Iranian armed forces chief Habibollah Sayyari warned Washington against any miscalculation, saying the United States would also suffer damage in the event of conflict. Meanwhile, billboards depicting Iran striking a US aircraft carrier have appeared in Tehran, according to AFP journalists.

Amid rising tensions, Iran has reached out to regional US allies. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani spoke with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Qatar reiterated its support for efforts aimed at reducing escalation and achieving peaceful solutions.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty separately contacted both Araghchi and Witkoff, calling for intensified efforts to ease tensions and create conditions for renewed dialogue between Washington and Tehran. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also urged restraint, saying it was wrong to attack Iran and warning against restarting the war.

Meanwhile, human rights concerns continue to mount inside Iran. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 6,221 people have been killed during the unrest, including thousands of protesters and dozens of minors. The group said more than 42,000 people have been arrested, while investigations continue into thousands of additional possible deaths.

Saudi Arabia Refuses Airspace Access for Attacks on Iran

HRANA warned that security forces were searching hospitals for wounded protesters, describing it as a new phase of the crackdown. It also reported that the first trial linked to the protests was held near Tehran this week, signaling the start of what it described as a broader campaign of prosecutions aimed at imposing harsh penalties.

On Wednesday, Iran also executed a man arrested in April 2025 on charges of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. Rights groups have expressed concern that some protesters could also face the death penalty.