Trump Warns Iran’s Supreme Leader Ahead of Key Nuclear Talks

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, asserting that Khamenei should be “very worried” ahead of upcoming nuclear discussions between the United States and Iran. This statement was made during a televised interview with NBC News, where Trump emphasized the gravity of the situation as talks are set to take place on January 13, 2024, in Oman.

The choice of Oman as the meeting location replaces the initially planned venue in Turkey, following Iran’s insistence on the change. An anonymous source informed the Associated Press that the White House remains “very skeptical” regarding the potential success of these negotiations. Nevertheless, the U.S. has agreed to proceed with the discussions.

Tensions escalated on January 10 when the U.S. military downed an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. According to Captain Tim Hawkins, the drone approached the carrier “aggressively” and maintained its course despite attempts by U.S. forces to de-escalate the situation. Hawkins noted, “The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters.”

Trump’s warning reflects not only the current military standoff but also the broader context of unrest within Iran. He has vocally supported Iranian civilians protesting against their government. In a post on Truth Social, Trump urged, “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” He condemned the Iranian regime’s actions against protesters and announced the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials until the violence ceases.

Khamenei responded to Trump’s remarks during a speech in Tehran, threatening that any attack by the U.S. would result in a “regional war” in the Middle East. On the same day, Trump addressed Khamenei’s warning, expressing hope for a successful deal and highlighting the military strength of the U.S. in the region. “We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there, very close a couple of days, and hopefully we’ll make a deal,” he stated.

Trump reiterated his support for Iranian protesters, linking the country’s current turmoil to U.S. interventions. He referenced “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a military action targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, and claimed that without it, peace in the Middle East would be unattainable. “If I didn’t take out their nuclear, think of it, if we didn’t take out that nuclear, we wouldn’t have peace in the Middle East because the Arab countries could have never done that,” he added.

As the U.S. prepares for these critical talks, the international community watches closely, aware that the outcomes could have significant implications for regional stability and nuclear non-proliferation efforts in the Middle East.