Trump threatens Iran with bombings and tariffs, after refusing talks

United States President Donald Trump threatened Iran with several measures, initiated by new sanctions and tariffs to military action.

This, after the Iranian president refused to hold direct talks with Washington on his nuclear programme.

We'll see if we can do anything. If not, it will be a bad situation”, Trump told reporters on March 30th, as he flew from Florida to Washington, REL reports. Periscope.

I would prefer an agreement instead of an alternative, which I think everybody on this plane knows what it is. It wouldn't be a pretty thing”, he added.

Earlier, Trump warned that “if they don't make deals, there would be bombings and there would be bombings they've never seen before”.

He also said he is considering setting tariffs to countries buying oil from Iran, as part of his strategy for “maximum pressure” against Tehran.

Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masud P somehowian publicly rejected holding direct negotiations with Washington for his nuclear programme, which was proposed in a letter Trump sent to Tehran earlier this month.

“Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides has been dismissed in this response, it is stressed that the road to indirect negotiations remains open”, Peseskian said.

Senior Iranian officials have already spoken against the idea of holding direct talks with the United States, but PESkian comments mark Iran's first official refusal.

In response, the US State Department said that “President Trump has been clear: The United States cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weapons”.

The president expressed his readiness to discuss an agreement with Iran. If the Iranian regime wants no deal, the president is clear: He will pursue other options, which will be very bad for Iran”, he said.

Since Trump has returned to the White House in January, his administration has repeatedly stressed that Iran should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons, while warning that military action is also on the table if Iran rejects Trump's idea.

Iran claims its nuclear programme has only peaceful purposes.

But a report by the UN nuclear overseer, published in February, pointed out that Iran has accelerated the production of uranium, which is used for weapons.