PARIS, France – US President Donald Trump has renewed threats to attack Iran, warning that “time is running out” to negotiate a nuclear weapons deal, as European leaders unite in response to American pressure over Greenland.
Referring to American strikes against Iranian nuclear targets during June’s 12-day war, which he said resulted in “major destruction of Iran”, Trump warned: “The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again.”
A US naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in Middle Eastern waters, according to US Central Command, which did not reveal its precise location.
Trump has never ruled out new military action against Iran following its deadly crackdown on protests this month, to follow the war between Iran and Israel which the US backed and joined.
Analysts suggest potential American options include strikes on military facilities or targeted hits against leadership under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a full-scale bid to bring down the system that has ruled since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Iran rejects talks under military threat
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the approach, saying: “Conducting diplomacy through military threat cannot be effective or useful. If they want negotiations to take shape, they must certainly set aside threats, excessive demands and raising illogical issues.”
Araghchi said he had “no contact” with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days and that “Iran has not sought negotiations”.
Armed forces chief Habibollah Sayyari warned Washington against any “miscalculation”, saying “they too would suffer damage”.
New billboards have appeared in Tehran, including one showing Iran striking an American aircraft carrier, according to AFP journalists.
Massive protest death toll confirmed
The escalating tensions come as the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) confirmed 6 221 deaths in the wave of demonstrations that rocked Iran’s clerical leadership since late December, peaking early in January.
The toll includes 5 856 protesters, 100 minors, 214 security force members and 49 bystanders. HRANA said it was investigating another 17 091 possible fatalities, warning that the actual toll could be significantly higher due to ongoing internet shutdowns.
At least 42 324 people have been arrested, with security forces reportedly searching hospitals for wounded protesters, highlighting “new dimensions of the continued security crackdown”.
ALSO READ: Iranian protester spared death sentence as Trump warns of military action
Regional diplomatic efforts
Iran has reached out to key regional allies following the escalating tensions. President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, while Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani held talks with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasised Qatar’s support for “all efforts aimed at reducing escalation and achieving peaceful solutions”.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate conversations with both Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and US envoy Witkoff, stressing the need to “ease tensions and work towards deescalation” and create “necessary conditions to resume dialogue between the US and Iran”.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Al-Jazeera television: “It’s wrong to attack Iran. It’s wrong to start the war again,” calling on Washington to reopen nuclear talks.
European unity over Greenland dispute
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron described the standoff with the United States over Greenland as “a strategic wake-up call for all of Europe” during talks with Danish and Greenlandic leaders on Wednesday.
Speaking alongside Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Macron said the “awakening” must focus “on asserting our European sovereignty, on our contribution to Arctic security, on the fight against foreign interference and disinformation, and on the fight against global warming.”
Macron reaffirmed France’s solidarity and “commitment to your sovereignty and territorial integrity”, adding that France would continue defending these principles “in accordance with the United Nations Charter.”
Trump had previously threatened to seize Greenland by military force but backed down after European pushback.
ALSO READ: Trump demands immediate Greenland talks but rules out military force
European defence concerns
Frederiksen said Europe needed to improve its defences “now” to become less reliant on the United States for military protection, though she acknowledged it would be “extremely difficult” for Europe to defend itself currently.
“Because when you look at intelligence, nuclear weapons, and so on, we depend on the US,” she said at Sciences Po university. “But I think we’re able to do more than what is being said publicly right now.”
Regarding NATO’s 2035 target to increase defence spending to five per cent of economic output, Frederiksen warned: “I’m sorry to say it would be too late. I think rearming ourselves now is the most important thing.”
The Danish leader said Europe had made a “big mistake” by cutting military budgets in the past, following pressure from the US government to meet earlier NATO spending targets.
