'Can't bribe them': Trump's 'will beat them' warning to Iran despite talks

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that while "good talks" are underway, the nation cannot be bribed and must be "beaten" if diplomacy fails.

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You can't bribe them. You've got to beat them, and we'll beat the hell out of them. But we'll see how it turns out. Right now, there are very friendly negotiations going on.

Speaking to reporters, Trump expressed cautious optimism about reaching an agreement with Iran, noting the possibility of a deal. However, he reiterated that military strikes remain an option if negotiations falter. "We're having good talks. I think there's a good chance that something could happen, and if it does, good, if it doesn't, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago," he said.

Later, at a campaign rally in Michigan, Trump adopted a more confrontational tone. "You can't bribe them. You've got to beat them, and we'll beat the hell out of them. But we'll see how it turns out. Right now, there are very friendly negotiations going on," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.

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We're having good talks. I think there's a good chance that something could happen, and if it does, good, if it doesn't, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago.

Despite Trump's remarks and a recent pause in U.S. air campaigns against Iran, regional tensions remain high. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq reported drone attacks on Monday, indicating that hostilities have not ceased. Washington had halted its two-week air campaign on Saturday in a surprising policy shift by Trump. Iran, meanwhile, denied reports that it had sought talks with Washington, with its foreign ministry spokesperson calling such claims "fabricated."

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This is not in our DNA.