The BRICS TimesUS President Donald Trump fired a sharp warning at Iran on June 10, saying Tehran has taken far too long in nuclear deal negotiations and will now face a steep price for that delay.
Trump Loses Patience With Tehran Over Stalled Nuclear Talks
US President Donald Trump turned up the heat on Iran on Wednesday warning that the Islamic Republic has wasted too much time in ongoing deal negotiations and will now bear the consequences. The sharp remarks came as diplomacy between Washington and Tehran continues to hang by a thread.
Trump made no effort to soften his message. Iran, he said, had dragged its feet for too long, and that kind of delay comes with a cost. The warning echoed his earlier posture where he told reporters flatly: “I don’t care if they’re over, honestly. I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less. If they’re over, they’re over. If they’re not, you know, I think they took too much time. Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring. They were giving us what we needed, but I think they handled the negotiations poorly.”
Talks On A Knife’s Edge After Weekend Strikes
The backdrop to Trump’s frustration is a region on edge. The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran frayed badly over the past weekend with the two sides exchanging strikes for the first time since April. The brief but alarming flare-up set alarm bells ringing across diplomatic circles.
Despite the renewed hostilities, Trump struck a more optimistic tone on Monday insisting a deal could still be struck within “two or three days.” Speaking to reporters after attending the NBA Finals in New York, he said the two sides are in the final stages of a “very, very good deal that will not in any way allow nuclear weapons.” He also said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen “immediately” once such an agreement lands.
US Blockade Stays Until A Final Deal Is Signed
Trump also made one condition crystal clear. The ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman which has disrupted oil flows and rattled global markets will not lift until a complete, finalized deal is in hand. He posted on Truth Social that negotiations were still “proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.”
Oil markets reacted quickly. Brent crude futures slid 1.3% to $93.02 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate dropped 1.8% to $89.67 a barrel a sign that traders see some reason for cautious hope, even as the path to a deal remains rocky.
Nuclear Red Lines Still The Core Sticking Point
At the heart of the deadlock is Iran’s nuclear program. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, laid out Washington’s non-negotiables plainly. Tehran must commit to “very specific negotiations” on the disposal of highly enriched uranium material that is currently buried deep underground. Iran must also agree to severe, long-term curbs on or the full cancellation of uranium enrichment on its soil.
Rubio made equally clear that sanctions relief and the release of Iran’s frozen assets are not on the table yet. Those will only be discussed once Tehran follows through on its nuclear promises. A state-sponsored Iranian news agency, meanwhile, reported that the latest draft of any potential deal remains under review in Tehran with no signature in sight just yet.
Akshay Didwaniya
Aditya Didwaniya
Pratik Agrawal
