Trump warns Iran of massive pressure if it does accept ‘olive branch’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his warning to Iran, threatening "massive maximum pressure" if Tehran refuses to make a deal with Washington over its nuclear program and “continues to attack its neighbors.” The remarks come despite US and Iranian officials holding their fourth round of talks on Sunday and amid anticipation of a fifth round this week.

Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh, the US President stated, “I want to make a deal with Iran,” warning however that "if Iran's leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure, drive Iranian oil exports to zero like I did before.”

Labeling Iran as the "most destructive force" behind instability in the region, Trump emphasized that while “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” the country could still have “a much brighter future” if it chooses a path of peace.

“Iran has a choice,” Trump said, “between continuing its chaos and terror, or embracing peace… We don't have much time to wait.”

The US President’s remarks come as he is currently in Saudi Arabia - the first stop on a regional tour that also includes the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda, “The time for choosing, for them [Iranians], is right now. There is a path to prosperity for Iran. He [President Trump] wants to see the entire region be prosperous.”

Pigott echoed President Trump’s remarks stressing, “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. There are two options in regard to that, a good option and a bad option. The President has spoken to this, he's made our priorities clear and he's made the goal clear.”

Just hours before Trump’s remarks, the US State Department announced fresh sanctions on “an international network facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil worth billions of dollars to China on behalf of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and its front company, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars (Sepehr Energy).”

According to the State Department, revenues from these oil sales are being used to fund Iran’s ballistic missile development, nuclear proliferation efforts, and support for terrorist proxy groups.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also announced sanctions on three Iranian nationals and an entity linked to Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) - "the direct successor organization to Iran’s pre-2004 nuclear weapons program, also referred to as the Amad project.”

The US President’s remarks and the fresh sanctions on Iran-affiliated entities and individuals come despite Washington and Tehran holding their fourth round of nuclear talks in Muscat on Sunday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Sunday’s fourth round of talks in Muscat as “significantly more serious,” noting that “We moved away from generalities and delved into the specifics. Naturally, this makes the negotiations more difficult.”

Araghchi added that “despite the difficulty and frankness of the talks, very useful discussions took place. It can now be said that both sides have a better understanding of each other’s positions.”

The Iranian foreign minister further anticipated that the next round of talks will be held this week.

Indirect talks between Iran and the US about Tehran’s nuclear program began on April 12 in Oman.

The current diplomatic engagement marks the first substantive dialogue between Washington and Tehran since the original 2015 nuclear agreement - formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - began to unravel. The JCPOA saw Iran agree to limit its nuclear enrichment activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

However, in 2018, during his first term, President Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord, reimposing harsh sanctions. In response, Iran began rolling back its commitments under the deal.

Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and that the development of atomic weapons contradicts the Islamic Republic’s principles.