US President Donald Trump said he does not rule out further US military strikes against Iran, warning that Tehran’s leadership should be “very worried” as negotiations over its nuclear program continue.
According to Trump’s interview to NBC News, published on Thursday, Feb. 5, Trump said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should be concerned about the possibility of renewed US attacks.
“I would say he should be very worried. Yeah, he should be. As you know, they’re negotiating with us,” he said.
US and Iranian officials said on Wednesday that high-level talks with Iran would be held on Friday in Oman, with discussions expected to cover Tehran’s nuclear program and other issues.
Trump suggested Iran may be seeking to revive its nuclear activities following US and Israeli airstrikes carried out last year.
When asked whether Iran was attempting to restart its nuclear program, Trump said: “Well, I heard that they are,” without providing further details. He added that if Iran resumed nuclear work, he would send US bombers back to Iran to “do their job again.”
The United States carried out airstrikes against Iranian nuclear-related facilities in June, targeting sites Washington said were linked to Tehran’s nuclear program. The strikes followed months of escalating tensions between Tehran and the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, amid concerns that Iran was advancing uranium enrichment beyond civilian needs.
At the time, the Trump administration said the strikes were intended to deter Iran from further nuclear development and to signal that Washington would not tolerate moves toward a nuclear weapon. Iran denied that its nuclear program had military aims and condemned the attacks as a violation of international law.
Since then, Trump has repeatedly used confrontational rhetoric toward Iran’s leadership, warning that Tehran would face severe consequences if it resumed nuclear activities. He has framed US military pressure as a means of forcing Iran back into negotiations and preventing what he describes as a renewed push toward nuclear capability.
Iran has also faced sustained domestic unrest, with protests erupting in multiple cities over economic hardship, political repression, and restrictions on civil liberties. Demonstrations have periodically intensified following crackdowns by Iranian security forces, drawing international attention and criticism.
Trump has publicly expressed support for protesters in Iran, portraying the demonstrations as a sign of popular opposition to the country’s leadership. He has accused Iranian authorities of corruption and mismanagement and has said the US stands with Iranians “seeking freedom,” while Tehran has accused Washington of attempting to incite unrest and interfere in its internal affairs.
Tehran and Moscow have long been allies. Russian leader Vladimir Putin met with the head of Iran’s top security body in Moscow in January, as White House pressure on Iran continued to build.