EditTrump warns Iran: nuclear deal now or face ‘far worse’ attack
Kallas signals EU is set to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist group, overcoming resistance from Paris and Madrid
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Wednesday, urging Tehran to negotiate a new nuclear deal swiftly or face a military response “far worse” than previous strikes, as tensions escalate amid Iran’s ongoing internal repression and a U.S. naval buildup in the region. T
he threats coincide with heightened European pressure on Iran, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stating that the bloc expects to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization during a key meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!” He added, “The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again,” referencing a prior U.S. military strike in June 2025 – codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer” – that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities during a 12-day conflict involving Israel.
Trump emphasized that a “massive armada” of U.S. warships, led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and supporting vessels from the Asia-Pacific, was heading toward the region and “ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.” U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters that the fleet had arrived in the Middle East earlier this week, amid soaring U.S.-Iranian tensions fuelled by Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests that began in late December 2025 over economic hardship and political repression.
The protests, which have reportedly resulted in thousands killed and widespread arrests, have drawn international condemnation and appear to underpin Trump’s renewed pressure. While Trump has not explicitly tied the current warning to the demonstrations in his latest statement (unlike earlier threats to intervene if killings continued), the timing aligns with reports of a bloody regime response that has included internet blackouts and mass detentions. Analysts note that Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 JCPOA during his first term set the stage for this hard-line stance, with demands now extending beyond nuclear curbs to potentially include limits on Iran’s ballistic missiles and support for proxy groups – issues Iran has historically refused to negotiate.
Iran responded defiantly. Its UN mission stated: “Last time the U.S. blundered into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives.” It added that Iran “stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests—BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied recent contact with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and reiterated Tehran’s position that any deal must respect Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment – a core red line for the regime.
In parallel developments underscoring growing Western isolation of Iran, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas told journalists ahead of the January 29 Foreign Affairs Council: “We are putting new sanctions on Iran and I also expect we will list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist list.” She added, “If you act as a terrorist, you should also be treated as terrorists.”
The expected designation – requiring unanimous approval from all 27 member states – would align the EU with the U.S., Canada, and others in labelling the IRGC (including branches like the Quds Force and Basij militia) a terrorist entity. This would impose travel bans, asset freezes, and funding prohibitions, amplifying existing EU sanctions regimes targeting human rights abuses, nuclear proliferation, and Iran’s military aid to Russia in Ukraine.
The shift follows months of debate, with recent holdouts like France (which reversed its opposition on Wednesday, citing fears of diplomatic fallout but yielding to pressure over the crackdown) and Spain now supporting the move. Momentum built after the European Parliament’s overwhelming January 22 resolution calling for the IRGC listing in response to the “brutal repression” of protesters. While largely symbolic – given the IRGC’s existing heavy sanctions – the terrorist label could complicate Iran’s regional influence and signal stronger EU solidarity with U.S. pressure tactics.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: Iranians walk near a huge anti-US billboard hanging at the Enqelab square in Tehran, Iran, 27 January 2026. The US President Donald Trump renewed threats of military action against Iran following anti-government protests. Iran is experiencing a nationwide internet blackout that began on 8 January 2026, amid an intensifying wave of anti-government protests. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Updated: January 29, 2026 - 10:01
