Trump Warns Iran of Military Action Amid Agreement Talks
Trump's Stance on Military Options
On Wednesday, President Trump emphasized that the United States has not ruled out military action against Iran, cautioning that if Iran does not adhere to the forthcoming agreement, the US is ready to resume hostilities. This statement was made as both nations prepare for a formal signing event in Geneva scheduled for Friday.
Details from Trump's Meeting
What Trump Said
During a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in France, Trump characterized the memorandum of understanding as a comprehensive document that would evolve into a formal contract. He expressed optimism that Iran would comply but made it clear that failure to do so would lead to consequences.
#WATCH | Evian, France: On deal with Iran, US President Donald Trump says, "This is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) but it is a very strong one. This isn't just like a two paragraph and this is a longer and detailed memorandum that goes into a regular contract. I think they… pic.twitter.com/XXpkHWDb0G
— News Media (@ANI) June 17, 2026
He stated, "This is a long, you know, pretty detailed memorandum that goes into a regular contract. I would think they would do it. If they don't, then that's, you know, that's okay. We'll have to start the process again. And we don't lose." Earlier, Trump had been more direct, indicating that if Iran deviated from the agreement, the US would revert to military action, saying, "it’s a Memorandum of Understanding, and if I don’t like it, we’ll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their heads."
Signing Ceremony Outlook
Confident but Cautious on Friday's Signing
When asked about his confidence in the agreement being signed on Friday, Trump provided a balanced response that conveyed both hope and skepticism. He remarked, "You never know with deals, do you? But you're going to find out pretty soon. I think it will be done. They want to sign. They want to get back to a normal life." He also noted that Iran appears eager to finalize the deal, stating, "They want to make a deal. They are so ready to make a deal." Behind this public assurance lies significant political pressure on Trump to resolve the situation, especially with midterm elections approaching and gas prices remaining high.
Market Reactions
Oil Prices Tick Back Up
Trump's assertive comments influenced market dynamics, leading to a rise in oil prices. Following a decline earlier in the week after the initial announcement of the agreement, Brent crude futures increased by 93 cents, or 1.2%, reaching $79.89 a barrel shortly after noon GMT. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate rose by 79 cents, or 1%, to $76.84. Despite these increases, both benchmarks remained near three-month lows, indicating that the market largely anticipates the deal will hold, even as Trump's rhetoric introduces some uncertainty.