US President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, warning that the country will face complete annihilation if it does not quickly agree to a nuclear deal with Washington. In a post on his Truth Social platform late Sunday, Trump wrote: “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!”
The warning comes as the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran—which began with major strikes on 28 February—continues to destabilise the Middle East. The war has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for one-fifth of global oil exports, and has drawn Lebanon into a deadly side-conflict. European capitals, heavily reliant on energy imports, are watching the crisis with growing alarm as oil prices soar.
Nuclear Programme at the Heart of the Impasse
The core sticking point remains Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump is demanding that Tehran completely dismantle its nuclear infrastructure, while Iran insists on retaining some capacity for civilian energy use. According to Iranian media, Washington’s latest proposal includes a five-point plan that would allow Iran to keep only one nuclear site operational and require it to transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium—estimated at around 440 kilograms of up to 60% purity—to the United States. That stockpile is theoretically enough to produce 10 to 12 nuclear bombs if enriched further to weapons-grade 90% purity.
Iranian media reported that the United States has failed to make sufficient concessions in its latest response to Tehran’s proposed agenda for negotiations. Both sides have repeatedly signalled readiness to resume fighting if no deal is reached.
Drone Strike on UAE Nuclear Plant
Tensions escalated further on Sunday when a drone strike hit the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, the only nuclear facility in the Arab world. The UAE Defence Ministry confirmed that three drones were detected near the plant, with one striking the site and two others intercepted. Authorities described the attack as an “unprovoked terrorist act” and blamed Iran, which has launched drone and missile attacks on Gulf states since the war began.
The strike caused a fire in an electrical generator, though the UAE’s nuclear regulator said plant safety was not compromised and all units were operating normally. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that one reactor was running on emergency diesel generators. Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, called the attack “a dangerous escalation, whether carried out by the principal actor or through one of its proxies.”
The Barakah plant, built with South Korean assistance at a cost of $20 billion (€17.2 billion), provides about a quarter of the UAE’s energy needs. The attack has heightened fears of further instability in the Gulf, as Iran continues to target US allies in the region. For a deeper look at the implications, see our analysis: Drone Strike Near UAE Nuclear Plant Heightens Iran Ceasefire Fears.
European Stakes in the Crisis
The conflict has direct consequences for Europe. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sent energy prices soaring, hitting European consumers and industries hard. EU member states, particularly those in southern Europe like Italy and Greece, are vulnerable to supply disruptions. Meanwhile, the war has drawn in Lebanon, where Hezbollah—backed by Iran—has been engaged in deadly clashes with Israel. European diplomats have been working behind the scenes to broker a ceasefire, but Trump’s latest ultimatum suggests that Washington is in no mood for compromise.
Iran has demanded a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon before any broader peace agreement with the United States, a condition that Trump has rejected. The standoff leaves European leaders in a difficult position, balancing their security ties with Washington against the need to stabilise energy markets and prevent a wider regional war. As the crisis deepens, the EU may need to consider its own mediation efforts, possibly in coordination with China, which has offered to mediate the Strait of Hormuz crisis. For more on that, see: China Offers to Mediate Strait of Hormuz Crisis, Warns US on Taiwan During Trump Visit.
The coming days will be critical. Trump’s warning leaves little room for diplomacy, and the risk of a renewed US-Israeli offensive against Iran is high. For Europe, the stakes could not be greater: a full-scale war in the Gulf would disrupt global energy supplies, trigger a refugee crisis, and further destabilise the Middle East, with ripple effects across the continent.
