President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Iran to return to negotiations over nuclear weapons, posting a warning on social media that the United States wants "a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS - one that is good for all parties." He added that "Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!"
In the same message the Republican president noted that his most recent warning to Iran was followed by a U.S. military strike and cautioned that "The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again." Mr. Trump also wrote that another "armada" is floating toward Iran.
The post reiterated the administration's demand that Iran negotiate restrictions on its nuclear program, while urging Tehran to "Come to the Table" and reach an agreement. The president previously withdrew the United States from the 2015 multination nuclear deal with Tehran during his first White House term, a fact referenced in his message.
Responding to the rhetoric, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state media earlier on Wednesday that he had not been in contact with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days and had not requested negotiations. The state media report framed Araqchi's comments as a denial of recent outreach or a request to open talks.
The president's statements combined a public call for diplomacy with an explicit military warning, stressing both a preference for a negotiated outcome and a readiness to use force. He characterized the desired outcome as one with no nuclear weapons and described the timeline as urgent.
Official responses cited in state media reflect at least one element of Tehran's stance: that there has been no recent communication with a named U.S. special envoy and no explicit request to begin negotiations. That comment stands alongside the president's assertion of an approaching naval presence.
Contextual note: The public exchange as reported includes the president's direct social media language and a statement attributed to Iran's foreign minister via state media. The available reporting conveys those positions without further elaboration on follow-up contacts or diplomatic steps beyond what was stated.