Payam Javan: On March 30, 2025, President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential secondary tariffs and military strikes if Tehran fails to negotiate with the United States over its nuclear program. In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump revealed ongoing discussions between U.S. and Iranian officials but provided no specifics. He emphasized that failure to reach a deal could lead to bombings, though he also referenced his past strategy of imposing tariffs, as seen during his first term. The White House reposted the NBC report, while Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected direct talks with Washington, responding to a letter Trump sent earlier in March to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei via Oman.

Pezeshkian’s refusal came amid stalled indirect negotiations, a situation exacerbated since Trump withdrew the U.S. from Iran’s nuclear deal in 2018. Iran’s currency has since plummeted under Trump’s renewed “maximum pressure” campaign, and mixed signals from Tehran—such as shifting anti-U.S. rhetoric and hardline military posturing—highlight escalating tensions. Iran’s leadership, including Khamenei and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warned of severe retaliation if the U.S. attacks, citing vulnerable American bases in the region. Trump, referencing his March 12 letter to Khamenei, underscored the dire consequences of military action.