Trump Sets 60-Day Deadline for Iran Nuclear Deal, Threatens Renewed Strikes

President Donald Trump said in a lengthy 28-minute phone interview with The New York Times that Iran has 60 days to reach a final nuclear agreement with the United States, or Washington will resume massive military strikes on Tehran. He said the pressure from earlier attacks had forced Iran to accept the tight timeline. According to the report, the secret talks were conducted for three months by special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and the formal signing is expected in Geneva this Friday.

Trump made clear that Iran would get no extra time. He warned, “If Iran fails to reach a final nuclear agreement with the United States, I will immediately renew military strikes on Tehran,” adding that the earlier bombing had been decisive. He said the strikes “left a huge impact” on the deal process and claimed, “They did not want a third attack, they care about their lives.” He also floated a broader regional role for the United States, saying, “I will make the United States the ‘guardian of the Middle East’ in return for 20 percent of the region’s revenues.”

In the same interview, Trump took public aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying recent Israeli strikes in the outskirts of Beirut nearly wrecked the agreement. He said Netanyahu “is a very difficult man” and should be grateful to the United States, arguing that if Iran had nuclear weapons, “Israel would not survive even two hours.” The article noted that Trump and Netanyahu have previously used public disputes tactically to confuse Iran while remaining coordinated behind the scenes.

Separately, despite the framework agreement, Israel’s government approved by telephone vote an extension of the special emergency status on the home front through the end of June. Security officials said there is still a high probability of an attack on civilians.