Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening severe military action and economic sanctions if Tehran refuses to negotiate a new nuclear agreement.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump made it clear that failure to reach a deal could lead to devastating consequences.

“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing—the likes of which they have never seen before,” Trump said during the interview. He also hinted at the possibility of secondary tariffs, similar to those imposed four years ago, which would target countries engaging in trade with Iran.

Trump’s remarks come after Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington, maintaining its stance of only engaging in indirect talks. Iranian Foreign Minister recently confirmed that Tehran had responded to a letter from Trump through Oman, reaffirming its refusal to hold direct discussions while US sanctions and military threats remain in place.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed this position, emphasizing that while direct negotiations are off the table, indirect talks can continue with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s approval.

During the interview, Trump also hinted at imposing secondary tariffs on Russia and Iran, without providing further details. Notably, last week, he signed an executive order imposing such tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil, signaling his willingness to expand economic pressure beyond Iran.

Trump's tough stance on Iran is not new. During his first presidential term from 2017 to 2021, he withdrew the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which had placed strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Following this withdrawal, Trump reimposed harsh economic sanctions, leading Iran to ramp up its uranium enrichment activities beyond the agreed limits.

Despite Trump’s warnings, Iran has remained firm, refusing to comply with Washington’s demands under pressure.