President Trump renewed his warning to Iran on Tuesday, stating that the U.S. could strike the country "really hard" if negotiations between Washington and Tehran collapse again.
"If they back out again, they're going to get hit really hard," Trump said during an interview. "They know that. They understand that. I have no choice. They can't have a nuclear weapon. It's very simple."
Trump emphasized that military action remained an option if diplomacy fails, but expressed hope that it would not be necessary. "The hard hit is yet to come, and hopefully we won't have to use it," he said.
The comments came days after Trump held off on a planned military strike on Iran, citing a request from Tehran and several Middle Eastern countries for more time to negotiate over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran's nuclear program.
Trump described the negotiations as "very good," despite Iran's repeated public denials that direct talks were underway. "They don't like to admit that, but, well, you know, it's a little bit disconcerting," he said.
When asked about the potential for abandoning talks with Iran, Trump stated that he was not in a rush to walk away from diplomacy. "I have plenty of time," he said.
Trump also criticized the nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama, calling it a failed policy that should have been resolved by previous administrations. "It should have been done by many presidents over many years, and it wasn't, and I'm doing it," Trump said.
Trump has previously called the latest round of negotiations Iran's "last chance" to avoid an escalation of US military action, with a focus initially on reopening the Strait of Hormuz before addressing Tehran's nuclear program.
