Latest Developments
Trump Threatens Tehran: U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iran and impose secondary tariffs on the country if it does not enter into negotiations over its nuclear program. In an NBC News interview on March 30, Trump stated, “If they don’t make a deal, there will be a bombing.” He added that “there’s a chance” that secondary tariffs could be imposed if negotiations fail.
Iranian President Confirms “Direct Negotiations Rejected”: Iran recently sent a response to Trump’s ultimatum, reaffirming its policy against direct negotiations with the United States. “Direct negotiations have been rejected, but Iran has always been involved in indirect negotiations, and now too,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on March 30, adding, “the Supreme Leader has emphasized that indirect negotiations can still continue.” Trump reportedly gave Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei two months to reach a nuclear deal with the United States, which must include Iran verifiably relinquishing all aspects of its nuclear program, including its missile program, weaponization efforts, and uranium enrichment activities.
U.S. B-2 Bombers Within Striking Distance: A spokesperson for the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has confirmed the presence of the B-2 Spirit on the island of Diego Garcia, which serves as a strategic U.S. military base for operations across the Middle East, Africa, and Indo-Pacific regions. The statement to FDD on March 31 noted that “B-2 Spirit bombers have arrived at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia,” adding that “U.S. Strategic Command, its components, and subordinate units routinely conduct global operations in coordination with other combatant commands, services, and participating U.S. government agencies to deter, detect and, if necessary, defeat strategic attacks against the United States and its allies.” The B-2 Spirit is a strategic bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear ordnance and can carry up to 40,000 pounds of munitions.
FDD Expert Response
“President Trump is making clear to Tehran that maintaining a threshold nuclear weapons program is no longer a viable option. Iran can either peacefully negotiate the program’s full, verified, and permanent dismantlement and enjoy sanctions relief — or the United States will forcibly dismantle it, threatening key regime economic and military assets and the regime’s very hold on power.” —Andrea Stricker, Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director and Research Fellow
“Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei thinks that he has all the cards due to his ability to engage in nuclear escalation. But President Trump is signaling through increasingly clear threats that he owns the casino.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow
“Iran will not negotiate seriously unless President Trump continues to reiterate the message of his predecessors, including Presidents Obama and Biden, that the United States will use military force, if necessary, to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military pressure will persuade Iran’s leaders to halt their nuclear weapons program only if paired with a crystal-clear message that the program is futile because U.S. military action ultimately will prevent it from succeeding.” —Orde Kittrie, Senior Fellow
“The United States Air Force possesses the capability to conduct decisive bombing operations around the world, including against Iran’s nuclear program. We will see in the next few months whether the Iranian regime takes President Trump’s threats seriously or simply views the United States as all muscle and no punch. Rather than simply sending B-2s to Diego Garcia, the administration should be conducting a U.S.-Israel Juniper Oak 2025 exercise this year in the Middle East that includes American B-2 bombers and KC-46 refuelers operating with American and Israeli F-15s and F-35s.” —Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power
FDD Background and Analysis
“Iran Unveils Latest Massive Underground Missile Facility,” FDD Flash Brief
“Iran Indicates Support for Indirect Negotiations With U.S. Over Nuclear Deal,” FDD Flash Brief
“Trump Reportedly Gives Iran Two-Month Deadline to Negotiate Nuclear Deal,” FDD Flash Brief
“Iran’s Nuclear Disarmament,” by Orde Kittrie, Andrea Stricker, and Behnam Ben Taleblu
Issues:
Biodefense Iran Iran Nuclear Military and Political Power Nonproliferation