Donald Trump reportedly issued a foul-mouthed warning to Iranian negotiators as high-stakes talks aimed at preventing a fresh Middle East crisis teetered on the brink of collapse. The US president is said to have threatened Iranian officials over any attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.
Trump's Crude Threat
Regarding the strategic waterway, Mr Trump warned during discussions: "You won't even make it back to your fu*king country," according to accounts of the exchange. The extraordinary threat emerged as American and Iranian officials met in Switzerland for talks designed to build on a fragile interim agreement reached last week.
US Vice President JD Vance opened the negotiations by urging Tehran to "turn over a new leaf" and asking whether relations between the two countries could be transformed permanently. But hopes of progress were quickly overshadowed by a series of increasingly aggressive statements from Mr Trump.
Additional Warnings and Social Media Threats
The president also warned Iran it would face fresh military action if it failed to rein in the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. On social media, Mr Trump wrote: "If they don't, we'll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!"
The talks come amid growing concern over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to global markets. Roughly a fifth of the world's traded oil passes through the route, making any disruption a major threat to the global economy. Mr Trump has repeatedly insisted Iran must not interfere with shipping through the strait.
Iranian Delegation Walks Out
Reports of his expletive-laden warning surfaced as former US diplomat Alan Eyre said the president had personally delivered the message to Iranian negotiators during discussions over the crisis. The remarks appeared to trigger an immediate backlash from Tehran. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that the country's negotiating team left the talks venue in protest at threats from Mr Trump.
An informed source close to the negotiating team told the outlet the Iranian delegation had walked out after the president's comments - although Axios Global Affairs Correspondent Barak Ravid countered: "The Iranians haven't left and the talks between them and the US are continuing."
Nuclear Programme and Regional Security
The development raises fresh doubts over the future of negotiations intended to resolve disputes over Iran's nuclear programme and regional security. Iran insists its nuclear activities are peaceful and has repeatedly said it will not surrender what it describes as its right to enrich uranium. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that Tehran would never abandon uranium enrichment, adding that other countries would eventually be forced to accept that position.
The latest tensions also come against the backdrop of renewed fighting involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, a conflict that threatens to derail diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. Despite the growing war of words, Mr Vance insisted "great progress" had been made during the negotiations and suggested there remained a chance of reaching a broader agreement.
Market and Diplomatic Outlook
Whether that remains possible after the latest intervention by Mr Trump is now unclear. Financial markets are expected to closely monitor developments when trading resumes, with oil prices particularly sensitive to any threat involving the Strait of Hormuz. For now, a diplomatic breakthrough appears a distant prospect as both sides exchange increasingly hostile rhetoric.
