Iran warns talks could collapse after Trump's threats

Tehran has formally protested to the United States over Donald Trump’s latest threats, saying they violate the understandings between the two sides. Iranian officials said Washington is breaching Article 1 of the agreement, which obliges the U.S. to refrain from threats, and described Trump’s comments as a serious violation.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, issued a sharp warning from the negotiation rooms in Switzerland. “They should be careful with what they say. Our armed forces are ready to respond in another way,” he said, adding that Iran does not attach importance to American threats. “Can they not think for themselves that if their threats worked, they would not have reached the state of desperation they are in today? ... They can keep talking as much as they want, we are the ones acting,” he said.

According to the Tasnim news agency, Iran is also threatening to halt all talks with the U.S. unless Israel fully withdraws from Lebanon and the fighting ends on all fronts. If Israeli operations continue, Tehran says it will respond much more harshly.

Tasnim reported that Iran suspects Washington is using the negotiations to buy time for Israel. Tehran is now weighing its response while signaling that the talks may end if its conditions are not met.