Sun Mar 30 14:51:57 UTC 2025: ## US Threatens Iran with Bombing Amid Nuclear Standoff
**Tehran, Iran** – Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated sharply this weekend, with US President Donald Trump threatening military action if Iran refuses to negotiate over its nuclear program. Trump, in an interview with NBC, stated that “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” adding the possibility of further economic sanctions.
These threats follow a letter from Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, demanding new negotiations or facing military consequences. Khamenei rejected direct talks, a stance echoed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who, while ruling out direct negotiations with the Trump administration, expressed openness to indirect talks mediated by a third party, such as Oman.
Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran is willing to negotiate but only after the US addresses past “misconduct” and rebuilds trust. He reiterated this position during a cabinet meeting on Sunday. An advisor to Khamenei, Kamal Kharrazi, further clarified that Iran is prepared for indirect negotiations to assess the US’s position and determine their next course of action.
The 2015 nuclear deal, which limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, collapsed after Trump withdrew the US in 2018. Since then, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran has accumulated enough fissile material for multiple nuclear weapons, although it has not attempted to build any. Iran maintains its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only. The ongoing sanctions have severely impacted Iran’s economy, leading analysts to believe that a breakthrough in negotiations is crucial for any economic relief. The current impasse leaves the future uncertain, with the threat of military conflict casting a long shadow over the region.
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