‘Next Attack Will Be Far Worse’: Trump Threatens Iran as Regime Denies Negotiations With Washington

Latest Developments

• Trump Issues New Threats: President Donald Trump issued a renewed threat to Iran’s rulers on January 28, warning the Islamic Republic to “come to the [negotiating] table” over its nuclear program to avoid U.S. military action. “A massive armada is heading to Iran,” Trump stated, adding that “time is running out” for a deal with the United States. “As I told Iran once before, make a deal! They didn’t, and there was ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ a major destruction of Iran,” Trump wrote, referring to the Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on regime targets last June. “The next attack will be far worse!” 
• Iran Remains Defiant: Responding to Trump’s post, the Islamic Republic’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations stated that the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq cost “over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives.” The United States has accused Iran of backing militias responsible for the deaths of more than 600 U.S. troops in Iraq. The mission added, “Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests — but if pushed, it will defend itself and respond like never before!” 
• Tehran Denies Outreach to U.S.: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that he had not contacted U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days to request negotiations despite reports otherwise. “Our stance is clear, negotiations don’t go along with threats and talks can only take place when there are no longer menaces and excessive demands,” Araghchi stated. The United States has continued deploying additional military assets to the Middle East, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, after a regime crackdown on the nationwide protest movement reportedly resulted in the slaughter of more than 35,000 Iranian civilians.

FDD Expert Response

“It is extraordinary that the Iranian regime continues to misread this U.S. administration. The United States has moved military assets into place, and Iran should know from last June that Trump is not afraid to use them. Yet the regime has ignored U.S. red lines and continues to bluster in defiance, even going out of its way to insult Trump. From their point of view, accommodating U.S. demands would humiliate them and guarantee their eventual downfall. The United States has no moral or strategic alternative but to use force to eliminate the residual military and terrorist threat from Iran and to bring about regime change.” — Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior Fellow

“Talks with Tehran have become a perpetual cycle in which the regime never negotiates in good faith, offers no meaningful concessions, and refuses to abandon its nuclear ambitions. ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ was the only action that actually halted the regime’s enrichment of uranium — something no deal or sanctions achieved. The priority now should be to build on those gains, not to grant an illegitimate government that has killed tens of thousands of its own citizens the opportunity to revive its capabilities.” — Janatan Sayeh, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Mapping Protests in Iran,” FDD Interactive Graphic

“Iran’s Executions Have Not Stopped,” by Janatan Sayeh

“Iran and its proxies threaten retaliation against US and Israel amid US military buildup,” by Janatan Sayeh and Bridget Toomey

“Hezbollah: We will not remain neutral if Islamic Republic endangered,” by David Daoud