Donald Trump Warns Iran of “Nasty” US Action if Nuclear Deal Fails

US President Donald Trump has said Washington is entering the “final stages” of negotiations with Iran, while warning that military action remains possible if Tehran refuses to sign a deal.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before travelling to Groton, Connecticut, Trump said, “We're in the final stages with Iran. We'll see what happens. Either they have a deal or we're going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won't happen.”

The remarks come amid heightened tensions between the United States, Iran, and Israel over Tehran’s nuclear programme and wider regional security concerns. Recent reports suggest negotiations remain fragile, with both sides still divided over uranium enrichment, sanctions, and security guarantees.

What did Trump say about Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel?

Trump also spoke extensively about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praising him and claiming he remains highly popular in Israel.

“Netanyahu will do whatever I want him to do. He's a very good man. Don't forget, he was a wartime Prime Minister, and he's not treated right in Israel, in my opinion. Right now, I'm at 99% in Israel. I could run for Prime Minister, so maybe after I do this, I'll go to Israel and run for Prime Minister. I had a poll this morning, I'm at 99%. But no, he's a wartime Prime Minister. I just don't think they treat him well. I think they have a president over there that treats him very poorly. If somebody comes along, I'd look. It's a little late in the race, but if somebody comes along, I'd look,” he said.

Trump’s comments arrive at a time when differences reportedly exist between Washington and Tel Aviv over how aggressively to deal with Iran. Some recent reports have indicated tensions between Trump and Netanyahu regarding proposals for a diplomatic settlement.

How did Trump compare the Iran conflict with past US wars?

Trump argued that the current Iran conflict has been relatively short compared to earlier American military interventions.

“We'll see what happens. Look at it this way: you were in Vietnam for 19 years, you were in Afghanistan for 10 years, you were in Iraq for 12 years, you were in Korea for 7 years. World War II was different, that was four years. I've been in for three months, and much of it has been a ceasefire. And you know what? We lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers in these other wars,” he said.

The US President has repeatedly claimed that his administration is balancing diplomacy with military pressure to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Recent statements from Trump have suggested growing impatience with the pace of negotiations.

What did Trump say about US military losses and Iran’s condition?

Trump also defended his administration’s handling of recent conflicts and claimed Iran had been significantly weakened.

“In two wars, Venezuela, where we lost nobody, and here, we lost 13 people. Now, 13 people is 13 too many, but we lost 13 people. In other wars, you lost hundreds of thousands of people. So people don't like it when you say, "Oh, do you know you've lost 13 people?" I've lost 13 people. They lost 13 people leaving an airport. Obama lost 13 very good people then that I got to know their families. So what we've done is amazing. We have them decimated. Iran is decimated. You're going to see things that are amazing. You're going to see a lot of amazing things over the next three years for our country,” he said.

Trump has repeatedly maintained that Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure suffered major setbacks following recent military operations and sanctions pressure.

How has Iran responded to Trump’s latest remarks?

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded by emphasising diplomacy and mutual respect over confrontation.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian said, “Iran has consistently honored its commitments and explored every avenue to avert war; all paths remain open from our side. Forcing Iran to surrender through coercion is nothing but an illusion. Mutual respect in diplomacy is far wiser, safer, and more sustainable than war.”

Iranian leaders have consistently rejected pressure tactics from Washington while signalling openness to negotiations under what they describe as fair conditions.

Why do the latest remarks matter?

Trump’s latest warning is significant because it signals that the United States may be nearing a critical decision point in its Iran strategy. While Washington continues to publicly push for a diplomatic agreement, Trump’s repeated threats of stronger military action suggest the possibility of escalation remains real.

At the same time, Tehran continues to insist that diplomacy — not coercion — offers the best path forward. The coming weeks could determine whether both sides move toward a negotiated settlement or a renewed phase of confrontation in West Asia.

(With inputs from ANI)