Donald Trump on Thursday threatened Iran with “very traumatic” consequences if it did not accept an agreement on its nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, expressed "some skepticism" about the chances of concluding the said agreement.

Published on: 02/12/2026 - 22:21

If Iran does not agree to an agreement on its nuclear program, the President of the United States threatens the country with "very traumatic" consequences. This is what Donald Trump declared on Thursday February 12, while at the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a "certain skepticism" about the chances of concluding an agreement.

“We have to make an agreement, otherwise it will be very traumatic, very traumatic,” declared the American president during an exchange with the press at the White House, adding that he hoped that negotiations with the Islamic Republic would be successful within a month.

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“I will talk to them as long as they wish,” he said again, indicating that in the absence of an agreement, he would move on to “phase two”, which would be “very hard” for the Iranians.

He once again gave the example of the United States' bombing of Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war launched by Israel in June 2025.

Washington and Tehran want to continue talking after a first session of talks in Oman on February 6.

Guarantees on missiles and on armed groups close to Iran

“I expressed (to Donald Trump) a certain skepticism about the quality of any agreement with Iran,” declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the day after a meeting at the White House with the Republican leader. "I said that if a deal was indeed to be reached, it should include elements that are very important... for Israel."

“It is not simply a question of the nuclear question, (but) also of ballistic missiles and (armed groups) proxies of Iran” such as the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Palestinian Hamas or the Houthis of Yemen, pleaded the Israeli Prime Minister.

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The missile issue is a red line for Israel, approximately 2,000 km from Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Donald Trump's preference for the diplomatic route, even if the 79-year-old billionaire has deployed considerable military resources near Iran. The American president thinks he is creating the “conditions” which could lead to a “good agreement” with Tehran, noted Benjamin Netanyahu.

Donald Trump's desire to continue discussions with Tehran

After the outbreak of a protest movement bloodily repressed by the Iranian authorities in early January, Donald Trump increased his warnings against Tehran.

By receiving Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, he however “insisted” on his desire to continue discussions with Tehran, despite very different positions.

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This divergence of views on Iran did not prevent the American president from once again declaring on Thursday his support for Benjamin Netanyahu in the face of accusations of corruption targeting him in Israel. Donald Trump said that Israeli President Isaac Herzog "should be ashamed" of not pardoning the Prime Minister, as the latter requested.

The United States insists on including the issue of missiles and Iranian-backed groups in the negotiations. Tehran, for its part, only wants to talk about the nuclear program and insists on gaining uranium enrichment capabilities.

With AFP

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