US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran on Thursday, cautioning of severe repercussions if the country fails to reach a nuclear agreement. Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed doubts about the potential efficacy of any such deal.
In a press briefing following his meeting with Netanyahu at the White House, Trump mentioned his desire for a resolution within the next month from the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran regarding Iran’s nuclear activities.
Emphasizing the importance of reaching a deal, Trump stated, “We have to make a deal, otherwise it’s going to be very traumatic, very traumatic. I don’t want that to happen, but we have to make a deal. This will be very traumatic for Iran if they don’t make a deal.”
Reports from US media indicated that the Pentagon has dispatched a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. Previously, Trump had deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its accompanying fleet to the Gulf as tensions escalated over Iran’s violent response to anti-government protests.
Regarding the negotiations, Trump remarked, “We’ll see if we can get a deal with them, and if we can’t, we’ll have to go to phase two. Phase two will be very tough for them.”
During Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, he advocated for a more stringent approach in the Iran nuclear discussions, particularly concerning the inclusion of Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal. However, it appears that Trump and Netanyahu did not fully align on this matter, as Trump affirmed his stance on continuing the negotiations.
Concurrently, the Iranian government announced the formation of a commission to investigate the protests triggered by the high cost of living that evolved into anti-government demonstrations resulting in numerous casualties.
According to Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani, a fact-finding committee has been established with representatives from relevant entities to gather evidence and testimonies. It is yet to be clarified whether the commission will solely focus on the economic grievances that sparked the protests or also delve into the fatalities during the unrest.
President Masoud Pezeskhian confirmed the initiation of investigative teams to examine the underlying causes of the protests, with plans to release a comprehensive report for public scrutiny and potential legal actions upon conclusion of the process.
The protests, which commenced in late December and intensified by January 8, led to a death toll exceeding 3,000 individuals, as reported officially.
