At inaugural Board of Peace talks, Trump warns of ‘bad things’ for Iran anew
In a striking juxtaposition, U.S. President Donald Trump used the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace to issue a renewed warning to Iran, even as he praised the United States for achieving “peace in the Middle East.”
“Iran is a hotspot right now,” Trump said Thursday, adding that while “good talks are being had,” it has “proven to be over the years that it’s not easy to make a meaningful deal with them.”
“We have to make a meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad things happen,” he added.
Still, Trump appeared to leave the door ajar for reconciliation with Tehran — even the possibility of Iran joining the Board of Peace."Now is the time for Iran to join us on a path that will complete what we're doing. If they join us, that'll be great. If they don't join us, that'll be great too — but it'll be a very different path," he said. "They cannot continue to threaten the stability of the entire region."
Trump’s remarks came as the United States continues to position military forces in the Middle East, reportedly preparing for a possible strike on Iran as soon as this weekend.
While Trump has not made a final decision, multiple news outlets, including the New York Times, CBS News, and CNN, report that sufficient air and naval resources are in place for potential military action.
According to senior U.S. officials cited by Reuters, national security advisers have been instructed to ensure all forces are deployed in the region by mid-March.
The Board of Peace gathering in Washington brought together representatives from more than two dozen countries to discuss reconstruction and stabilization efforts in Gaza.
Trump framed the meeting as part of his broader Middle East strategy, calling the region “the biggest thing of all — we have peace in the Middle East right now.”
Yet the juxtaposition between the diplomatic forum and his stern warning to Tehran highlights the ongoing tension between Trump’s public promotion of stability and the looming possibility of military action.
Iran is expected to submit a written proposal following indirect talks in Geneva this week.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the progress as limited, emphasizing that “diplomacy” remains the administration’s “first option,” even as the timeline for potential U.S. action tightens.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
