Trump tells Iran to make nuclear deal or next attack will be far worse

U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iran on Wednesday to negotiate a nuclear weapons deal, warning that any future U.S. attack would be much more severe. Iran, however, responded by stating that it would retaliate strongly if attacked. Trump expressed hope that Iran would quickly come to the table for a fair agreement that ensures no nuclear weapons are involved. He emphasized that time is limited, stating, “Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!” in a post on social media. The Republican leader, who withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran during his first term, reminded that his previous warning led to a military strike in June. He cautioned, “The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again,” and reiterated that a U.S. naval fleet was on its way to Iran. Iran's mission to the United Nations reacted by recalling the costly U.S. military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, which resulted in over $7 trillion spent and more than 7,000 American lives lost. They stated, “Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests—BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!” Additionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi mentioned that he had not spoken with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff recently nor requested any negotiations, as reported by state media on Wednesday. Trump indicated that the U.S. naval force led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was nearing Iran, with two U.S. officials confirming that the Lincoln and its accompanying warships had reached the Middle East.