Iran Refuses Nuclear Talks With US After Trump’s 2-Week Ultimatum, Amid Ongoing Israeli Airstrikes

 

Date: June 20, 2025

Tensions in the Middle East escalated further this week as Iran officially rejected any renewed nuclear negotiations with the United States, days after former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a two-week deadline urging Tehran to return to talks or face "consequences." The rejection comes amid continued Israeli airstrikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria and Lebanon, stoking fears of a broader regional conflict.

Iran's Firm No to US Talks

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani declared in a press briefing on Thursday that Tehran would not participate in any talks “under pressure or threats”, calling Trump’s deadline “political theater.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will never engage in dialogue from a position of coercion. We negotiated in good faith in the past. It is now the U.S. that must prove its seriousness,” Kanaani said.

This statement came in response to Trump’s June 5th televised interview, in which the Republican frontrunner for the 2024 U.S. election claimed he would give Iran “two weeks to return to the table” and warned of "maximum retaliation" if Iran continued uranium enrichment.

Background: A Fractured Nuclear Deal

The Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 under President Barack Obama but was unilaterally abandoned by Trump in 2018. That withdrawal reimposed harsh U.S. sanctions on Tehran, prompting Iran to gradually violate the deal’s enrichment limits.

Under President Biden, indirect talks aimed at reviving the JCPOA stalled in 2023 due to growing mistrust and regional escalations.

According to IAEA reports, Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile has now surpassed 25 times the limit set under the original deal, raising alarms globally about a potential nuclear breakout.

Israeli Strikes Continue

Simultaneously, Israeli airstrikes have intensified across Syria and southern Lebanon over the past week. On Wednesday night, Israeli warplanes targeted alleged IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) weapons depots near Damascus, resulting in at least 14 deaths, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In another strike on Friday morning, Hezbollah communication sites near the Lebanese border town of Marjayoun were bombed, reportedly in retaliation for recent drone surveillance activity over Israeli airspace.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement saying, “We will continue to neutralize Iranian-linked threats in the region to safeguard our security.”

Regional Response & Escalation Risk

Iran has condemned the strikes as “illegal acts of aggression,” warning that retaliation would be “decisive and direct.” Tehran's regional allies, including Hezbollah and various Shia militia groups in Iraq, have also increased their military readiness.

Middle East analysts warn that the combination of collapsed diplomacy and intensifying cross-border strikes could ignite a wider war.

“Without diplomatic channels and with both sides posturing militarily, the chance of miscalculation is dangerously high,” said Fatima Al-Husseini, a senior fellow at the Gulf Policy Center.

US Position: Mixed Signals?

Though Trump is no longer in office, his influence on U.S. foreign policy remains significant as the presumed 2024 Republican nominee. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from both Iranian officials and former American diplomats.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has refrained from echoing Trump’s ultimatum, instead continuing to emphasize diplomacy. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Thursday, “The United States remains committed to a diplomatic resolution with Iran. However, we are prepared to defend our allies and interests in the region.”

Global Reactions

·       Russia, a close ally of Iran, condemned both the Israeli airstrikes and Trump’s remarks. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the situation “dangerously provocative.”

·       The European Union expressed “deep concern” and called for restraint on all sides, urging Iran to return to compliance with nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

·       The United Nations has warned that the ongoing tensions are undermining regional stability and called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council next week.

 

What’s Next?

With Iran’s firm rejection of talks and no clear unified approach from the United States, the pathway to reviving the JCPOA appears almost completely blocked. At the same time, Israel’s campaign against Iranian-backed forces continues to expand, and any Iranian retaliation could spiral into open conflict.

As the Middle East stands on edge, the world watches closely—hoping for de-escalation, but preparing for the possibility that diplomacy may give way to another devastating round of violence in the region.