‘Very traumatic’ consequences await Iran if no nuclear agreement is reached, Trump warns
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed doubts about the quality of any nuclear agreement, despite US President Donald Trump’s threat on Thursday of “very traumatic” repercussions if Iran does not reach a deal.
Trump expressed his expectation for a resolution “over the next month” from Washington’s conversations with Tehran regarding its nuclear program, only one day after hosting Netanyahu at the White House.We must come to an agreement, or else it will be really upsetting. Trump told reporters, “I don’t want that to happen, but we have to come to an agreement.”If they don’t reach an agreement, Iran will experience severe trauma.
Trump recalled the US military attacks he authorized on Tehran’s nuclear facilities during Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in July of last year. Trump is thinking of sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East to put pressure on Iran.If we are unable to reach an agreement with them, we will have to proceed to phase two. For them, phase two will be extremely difficult,” Trump stated.
Netanyahu has come to Washington to pressure Trump to adopt a more assertive stance in the nuclear negotiations with Iran, especially with the inclusion of the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile stockpile.
However, it appears that the US and Israeli officials are still at odds, as Trump stated following their meeting at the White House on Wednesday that he had urged that the talks go on.SKEPTICISM IN GENERAL
Before leaving for Israel on Thursday, Netanyahu stated in Washington that Trump thought he was setting the stage for an agreement.According to a video statement from his office, Netanyahu stated, “He thinks that the conditions he is creating, along with the fact that they undoubtedly realize they made a mistake last time when they didn’t reach an agreement, may create the conditions for achieving a good deal.”
“I will not hide from you that I expressed general skepticism regarding the quality of any agreement with Iran,” the Israeli minister continued.
Netanyahu went on to say that any agreement “must include the elements that are very important from our perspective,” citing Iran’s ballistic missile program and its backing of armed groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the Palestinian movement Hamas.The nuclear problem isn’t the only one,” he stated.
Trump blasted Israeli President Isaac Herzog for turning down his plea to pardon the prime minister on corruption charges, indicating his strong personal backing for Netanyahu despite their disagreements over Iran.The president of your country is refusing to pardon him. Trump stated on Thursday, “I believe that man ought to feel ashamed of himself.”
Even as Washington and Tehran resumed negotiations this week with a summit in Oman, Trump has repeatedly alluded to possible US military action against Iran after its fatal assault on demonstrations last month.
The US strikes and Israel’s war with Iran ended the last round of negotiations between the two adversaries.
Iran has thus far refused to broaden the scope of the upcoming negotiations beyond the subject of its nuclear program. Tehran has stated that it will not comply with “excessive demands” on the matter and denies pursuing a nuclear weapon.