U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, emphasizing that the window for negotiations is closing, and suggesting that military action remains a possibility. In response, Iran has vowed to retaliate with unprecedented force should any attack occur.

Meanwhile, Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio, has characterized Iran’s leadership as being at its most vulnerable point in history. Additionally, German leader Friedrich Merz has speculated that the Islamic Republic’s regime may be nearing its end, following a harsh crackdown on recent anti-government demonstrations.

Trump has kept the option of military intervention on the table in light of the protests that erupted in late December and hit a peak in early January. According to a human rights organization, these protests have resulted in the deaths of over 6,200 individuals.

Last June, the U.S. conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities amidst Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran. This move underscored the rising tensions and the international focus on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

In a recent message on Truth Social, Trump did not directly reference the protests but reiterated the urgent need for Iran to engage in talks regarding its nuclear activities, which the U.S. suspects are geared toward developing nuclear weapons.

“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 stated emphatically.

“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!” said Trump.

“The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again,” he added, referring to American strikes against Iranian targets during the June war.

A US naval strike group — that Trump described as an “armada” led by aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln — is now lurking in Middle East waters.

In response to Trump, Iran’s mission to the United Nations posted a screenshot of his threat on X and wrote: “Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests — BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!”

Merz suggested it could be only a “matter of weeks” until the Iranian government was no longer in charge of the country.

“A regime that can only hold onto power through sheer violence and terror against its own population: its days are numbered,” he said at a press conference.

Iran warns US would ‘suffer damage’

His comments came as Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that Iran was threatened by its inability to address the fact “that their economy is in collapse”, calling it the root of the protests.

Analysts say US options include strikes on military facilities or targeted hits against the leadership under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a full-scale bid to bring down the system that has ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the shah.

Before Trump’s comments were published, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said “conducting diplomacy through military threat cannot be effective or useful”.

In televised comments, Araghchi said he had “no contact” with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days and that Iran had “not sought negotiations”.

Iranian armed forces chief of staff Habibollah Sayyari warned the US against any “miscalculation”, saying that “they too would suffer damage”.

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