Reach a deal or US will finish the job, Trump warns Iran

Donald Trump said the US would pursue a deal with Iran or use force if talks fail. The remarks underlined Washington's pressure for concessions even as it said diplomacy remained its first choice.

In Short

• Claims Iran made concessions but no final deal yet
• Talks paused during funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader
• Says regime change not US objective, diplomacy preferred

US President Donald Trump on Sunday renewed his warning that the United States could take military action against Iran if negotiations fail, saying Washington would either secure a deal with Tehran or "finish the job."

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he still preferred a diplomatic solution but insisted the US retained the ability to strike key Iranian infrastructure if necessary.

"We're either going to make a deal, or we're going to finish the job. It won't be tough to finish the job," Trump said.

The remarks came even as indirect talks between Washington and Tehran remain on hold during the funeral ceremonies for Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

TRUMP RENEWS MILITARY WARNING

While emphasising that diplomacy remained his preferred option, Trump warned that the US could quickly target Iran's critical infrastructure if negotiations collapsed.

"We can knock out their electricity and power-generating plants in the small part of an afternoon," he said.

Trump added that he hoped such action would not be necessary, saying he wanted to avoid harming ordinary Iranians.

"I'd rather make a deal because I don't want to affect 91 million people," he said.

His comments marked the latest in a series of warnings aimed at Tehran as both sides weigh the next phase of negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme.

CLAIMS IRAN HAS MADE CONCESSIONS

The US President also claimed Iran had already made concessions during the negotiations, although he acknowledged that no final agreement had been reached.

"We've gotten concessions, now they have to hold (to) those concessions," he said.

On nuclear deal, he again asserted that Washington would be allowed to remove Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of any future agreement.

However, Iranian authorities have repeatedly rejected the proposal.

Trump said an agreement remained within reach but stressed that the outcome was still uncertain.

"We're close to maybe making a deal I don't know. We're going to win one way or the other," he said.

Although Trump expressed optimism about a possible breakthrough, negotiations are currently suspended. The US and Iran agreed to pause discussions during the week of funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with both sides expected to resume indirect talks afterwards. The pause comes amid continuing efforts to reach a broader agreement following months of heightened military tensions in the region.

REGIME CHANGE NOT THE OBJECTIVE, TRUMP SAYS

Trump also said the objective of the recent conflict had never been to bring down Iran's government.

"The goal was never to collapse the regime," he told reporters.

The remark contrasted with comments he made during the opening stages of the US-Israeli military campaign, when he openly encouraged Iranians to take control of their government after the bombing ended.

Despite repeating his military warning, Trump maintained that diplomacy remained his first choice.

He said a negotiated settlement would be preferable to another conflict, but stressed that Washington was prepared to use force if talks ultimately failed.

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