US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying “things are going to get bad” if a new nuclear deal is not reached. His statement comes a day after Tehran confirmed it had responded to Trump’s letter calling for negotiations.

“I would prefer to make a deal with Iran. But if that doesn’t happen, things will get awkward for Iran,” Trump said, leaving room for a diplomatic, but also a potentially more aggressive, scenario.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran had responded to the letter, but did not disclose its contents.

“Trump’s letter contained both threats and appeals for diplomacy. Our position remains clear – there will be no direct negotiations with the United States under threats and maximum pressure. However, indirect contacts, as before, are possible,” Araghchi said.

Iran has been significantly advancing its nuclear program for several years, and according to reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it currently possesses reserves of 60% enriched uranium – enough to produce six nuclear bombs if that uranium is enriched to 90%.

As the United States seeks a new deal, Iran warns that any military attack will have consequences. The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, made it clear that “if the US takes military action against Iran, its allies in the region and military bases will become unsafe.”

It remains to be seen whether Trump’s warnings are part of a strategy to bring Iran back to the negotiating table or herald a new escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.