U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, urging the Islamic Republic to swiftly return to negotiations over its nuclear program and reach a “fair and equitable deal” that ensures no nuclear weapons.
Kabul 24: In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that time is running out and described the situation as truly critical.”Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!” Trump wrote.
He referenced a previous U.S. military strike last June (known as the “Midnight Hammer” operation, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities) as a precedent, stating: “The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again.”Trump also highlighted the deployment of a new “massive armada” of U.S. warships, including elements led by the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, moving toward the region.
He described the fleet as “ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary,” drawing a parallel to past U.S. naval operations.In response, senior Iranian officials delivered firm counter-warnings.
Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and representative in the Supreme National Security Council, posted on X that any U.S. military action—even a so-called “limited strike”—would be treated as the start of full-scale war.
“A limited strike is an illusion,” Shamkhani wrote in both Persian and Hebrew. “Any military action by the United States, from any origin and at any level, will be considered the start of war, and its response will be immediate, all-out, and unprecedented, targeting the heart of Tel Aviv and all supporters of the aggressor.”Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this stance on X, declaring that Iran’s armed forces are “prepared—with their fingers on the trigger—to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea.” He referenced lessons from the prior 12-day conflict, noting Iran’s enhanced capability for a stronger, faster, and deeper retaliation.
At the same time, Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran’s openness to a “mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL—on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation”—one that upholds Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology while prohibiting nuclear weapons.
The exchange comes amid stalled preliminary talks between Washington and Tehran on nuclear limits and ballistic missiles, with regional tensions at a boiling point following recent U.S. military buildups and Iran’s internal challenges.
