Trump threatens ‘very bad day’ for Iran if no deal

An MP in Tehran has warned that upcoming nuclear talks will decide whether US soldiers “go to hell or return to America”

US President Donald Trump has renewed his threats of military action against Iran, claiming that the Islamic Republic will face a “very bad day” unless it agrees to a nuclear deal.

Trump issued the threat in a Truth Social post on Monday, responding to reports that US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Daniel Caine had warned top officials about the risks of a campaign against Tehran.

“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine… is against us going to War with Iran,” Trump wrote, raging against reports he insisted were “100% incorrect.” He claimed Caine believed a military campaign would be “easily won” and “will be leading the pack” if ordered.

“I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a deal than not but, if we don’t make a deal, it will be a very bad day for [Iran],” he wrote.

Caine was the primary architect of US strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in mid-2025, justified as preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons – an ambition it denies. Citing sources, Axios and the Wall Street Journal reported Caine had cautioned against another operation over concerns about casualties, depleted air defenses, and overstretched forces.

Read more

Last week, Trump set a 15-day deadline for Iran to agree to a deal, warning failure could trigger military action unless Tehran agrees to dismantle its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Washington has also dispatched two carrier strike groups and additional bombers to the Middle East in recent weeks.

Indirect US-Iran nuclear talks resumed earlier this month with Oman’s mediation, with a third round due in Geneva on Thursday, where Iran is reportedly expected to present a draft agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier insisted that Tehran’s nuclear program is peaceful and that zero enrichment is unacceptable, calling the country’s missile program a “red line.” He warned Iran is ready for military confrontation if diplomacy fails and would target US bases if attacked.

READ MORE: Iran ‘not going to get bogged down in talks’ – source

Amid Trump’s threats, Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian parliament, warned on X that “Thursday’s negotiations are a test for Trump and will determine whether American soldiers will go to hell or return to America.”