Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines by issuing a warning to Iran with bombs and expressing frustration, says "pissed off" with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war. In an early-morning phone call with NBC journalist Kristen Welker, Trump reportedly said he was "very angry, pissed off" about Putin's recent comments questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership. Putin had suggested that Ukraine should consider new leadership as part of a possible peace deal, an idea that Trump rejected, calling it unhelpful.

"If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia's fault... I am going to put secondary tariffs on all oil coming out of Russia," Welker stated, mentioning Trump.

Donald Trump has had a rocky relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, even calling him a "dictator" in the past. Their tensions resurfaced during Zelensky's recent visit to Washington, where Trump criticised how Ukraine is being governed during the war. Trump also claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was aware of his frustration. However, he maintained that he still had a "good relationship" with Putin and suggested that his anger would ease if Russia made the "right decisions" regarding Ukraine.

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump's administration has struggled to secure a lasting ceasefire in the conflict. A recent US-backed proposal for a 30-day truce was rejected by Russia, which instead escalated its military operations in Ukraine’s northeast. To pressure Moscow, Trump has proposed secondary tariffs on any country that buys Russian oil. This move would primarily impact major importers like China and India, making it harder for Russia to fund its war.

Alongside his statements on Russia, Trump cautioned that Iran might face military action if it refuses to enter new nuclear talks. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump reportedly informed NBC. "It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before."

During his first term, Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear deal, and attempts to renegotiate it have mostly failed. He recently reaffirmed that his administration is open to discussions but insisted that Iran must first show a willingness to curb its nuclear activities.

In response, Iran’s newly elected President, Masoud Pezeshkian, addressed Trump’s remarks in a statement aired on state media. While he ruled out direct talks with the US, he acknowledged that indirect negotiations, facilitated by Oman, could continue.

 "The supreme leader has also emphasised that indirect negotiations can continue. We do not avoid negotiations. Rather, it is their unfaithfulness that has caused problems for us so far. They must prove that they can establish trust regarding decisions, and I hope this will materialise," Mr Pezeshkian stated, news agency AFP reported.