New York, Feb 5 || TC - President Donald Trump proposed a potential deal to Iran while simultaneously threatening its destruction and imposing the harshest possible sanctions on the country. These developments unfolded in a series of rapid events that sent shockwaves across global politics.
On Tuesday, during a White House appearance where he signed a memorandum to re-impose "maximum economic pressure," Trump said, "I would love to make a great deal, a deal that allows you to live your lives." However, he added a stern warning, saying that Iran "cannot have one thing: they cannot have a nuclear weapon."
"If they acquire one, it will be very unfortunate for them," Trump added.
This offer marks a shift from Trump’s earlier stance of pulling the U.S. out of the multinational agreement aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Later, Trump revealed that he had left specific instructions to retaliate against Iran should it carry out an assassination attempt on him. U.S. officials had previously claimed that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards had plotted to kill Trump, and three men were arrested in New York for allegedly attempting to carry out a murder-for-hire scheme.
During a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated that if Iran were to assassinate him, "that would be the end." He elaborated, saying, "I’ve left instructions. If they do it, they get obliterated. There won’t be anything left."
Additionally, Trump emphasized his commitment to imposing extreme pressure on Iran, particularly targeting its oil exports, a crucial economic lifeline. He said, "Today, I took action to restore the maximum pressure policy on the Iranian regime, and we will enforce the harshest sanctions possible, drive Iranian oil exports to zero, and cripple the regime's ability to fund terrorism across the region and globally."
Trump's offer to negotiate with Iran aligns with his unconventional approach to diplomacy. During his first term, he met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un three times in an attempt to negotiate North Korea's denuclearization, though no concrete agreement was reached.
Iran, now in a vulnerable position following the fall of its ally, former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the defeat of its proxies Hezbollah and Hamas, faces considerable setbacks in the region.
The country also has a new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, who succeeded Ebrahim Raisi after his tragic death in a helicopter crash.
Despite this, Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal, brokered by the U.N. Security Council's permanent members, Germany, and the European Union, has led to Iran resuming its uranium enrichment activities, pushing the country closer to developing nuclear weapons.