Trump Warns Iran That Time Is Running Out

Summary

Bloomberg's Nick Wadhams discusses President Trump's warning that Iran faces a far worse attack than Operation Midnight Hammer if it does not make a nuclear deal. Wadhams says the US remains in 'wait and see' mode, with active diplomacy in the region and signs that Iran wants to resume nuclear talks. He also says a US attack or a blockade aiming to squeeze Iran's oil trade with China cannot be ruled out, especially after the Venezuela operation rewrote the rules of the game.

• Trump warned Iran that failing to make a nuclear deal could bring a far worse attack than June's Operation Midnight Hammer.
• Wadhams says the US is in 'wait and see' mode on a possible strike, though diplomacy in the region appears active.
• Wadhams says Iran wants to restart nuclear talks and there are tentative signs of a new round of conversations.
• He takes the claim that Iran's nuclear program was obliterated with a grain of salt, noting the enriched uranium stockpile is essentially intact and the IAEA says the program could restart.
• The Pentagon has not disclosed the size of the naval armada near Iran, which Trump says is bigger than the Venezuela deployment.
• Wadhams says an attack or a potential blockade squeezing Iran's oil trade with China, a key revenue source, cannot be ruled out.
• The Venezuela attack and Maduro's capture have rewritten the rules of the game for US foreign policy, Wadhams says.