Senior Iranian officials are threatening to ramp up the country’s nuclear program as the Trump administration weighs a possible strike against the regime if Tehran does not come to the table for negotiations.

‘The president should be making the regime sweat, pure and simple,’ Behnam Ben Taleblu, an Iran expert and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

‘This can be done with strict enforcement of maximum pressure sanctions, and a targeted campaign against regime assets in the region – Yemen being a good example now. Washington will also need to add a critical third element to its otherwise economic and military pressure policy. Maximum support for the Iranian people.’

Lisa Daftari, a Middle East expert and editor-in-chief at The Foreign Desk, told Fox News Digital that while diplomacy often demands negotiation, extending any offer to Iran’s regime, even symbolically, risks legitimizing a government that has spent decades terrorizing its own people and funding proxies like Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah.

‘This regime thrives on defiance, not dialogue. That has not changed. For over four decades, the mullahs have understood only one language: might,’ Daftari said.

President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Thursday that it would be better if the U.S. had direct talks with Iran.

‘I think it goes faster, and you can understand the other side a lot better than if you go through intermediaries,’ Trump said. ‘They wanted to use intermediaries. I don’t think that’s necessarily true anymore. I think they’re concerned. I think they feel vulnerable, and I don’t want them to feel that way.’

Trump also threatened to bomb Iran and impose secondary sanctions on Iranian oil if it did not come to the bargaining table over its nuclear program. Although the president said he preferred to make a deal, Trump did not rule out a military option.
 

‘It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before,’ President Trump told NBC News last weekend.

The U.S. expanded its deterrence efforts in the region, deploying additional squadrons of fighter jets, bombers, and predator drones to reinforce defensive air-support capabilities. The U.S. is also sending the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group to the region to join USS Harry S. Truman, which has been in the Middle East to fight against the Houthi’s in Yemen.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, responded with threats of his own and said that Iran would respond ‘decisively and immediately’ to any threat issued by the U.S. Iran is still floating the idea of indirect talks, something the administration is reportedly considering.

Taleblu said, ‘Tehran’s counteroffer of indirect talks is the regime’s way of rejecting Trump while leaving the door open for talks that can be used as a shield against a potential preemptive attack.’

The president sent a letter to Khamenei expressing interest in making a deal on the nuclear issue. While increasing its military presence in the region, reports indicate that the Trump administration is considering indirect talks with Iran to curb the expansion of its nuclear program and avoid a direct confrontation.

Experts and observers of the region warn that Iran has used negotiating as a delaying tactic in the past and warn the Trump administration against entering into talks that might further embolden Iran.

‘The Trump administration should impose full pressure on the regime in Iran given how weak the regime has become in the last several years. Indirect talks are the regime’s strategy of buying time so it can live to fight another day,’ Alireza Nader, an independent analyst in Washington, D.C., and expert on Iran, told Fox News Digital.

Nader’s recommendation to Trump is to support the people of Iran and argued that the regime is much weaker than it appears.

‘President Trump really wants a deal. Iran has a chance here to go back and negotiate, keep its civilian nuclear program but make concessions about its size and the duration of a deal,’ Alex Vatanka, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital.

‘Trump is in a dominant position. Republicans in Congress fear him. Nothing can stop him—at least for now. But power is fickle. The longer he’s in the White House, the more vulnerable he may become. Iran shouldn’t wait for that,’ Vatanka added.

In an interview with Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies podcast, ‘The Iran Breakdown,’ former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that eventually, Israel will attack Iran’s nuclear facility, with or without the United States, because there is no other choice, according to Lapid.

Ali Larijani, an advisor to the supreme leader, said in an interview that although Iran does not seek a nuclear weapon, Tehran will have no choice but to build a nuclear weapon if the U.S. or Israel strike Iran.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in February that Iran has accelerated its nuclear program and has enriched uranium close to weapons-grade levels. 

Danielle Pletka, senior fellow in Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), told Fox News Digital that having additional military assets in the Middle East is sound policy given the threats that the U.S. and its allies face in the region.

For Pletka, the question is, what is the Trump administration looking for?

‘A deal in which the Iranians do not fully get rid of their nuclear weapons program? If so, the president sets the United States up for the risk that Barack Obama inflicted on our allies and ourselves – merely delaying the Iranian nuclear program to a later date,’ Pletka told Fox News Digital.

Pletka said it is strange that President Trump seems to envision a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)-like deal, and that has prompted a lot of criticism on Capitol Hill. 

Trump originally withdrew from JCPOA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, during his first term in 2018 and reapplied harsh economic sanctions. The Biden administration had initially looked at re-engaging with Iran on the nuclear issue upon taking office, but on-again-off-again talks went nowhere, complicated by Iran’s domestic politics and its role in supporting its terror groups in the region.

The other risk that the president runs, according to AEI’s Pletka, is being perceived as a paper tiger.

‘He threatened Hamas with bombing that he never delivered. Now he’s threatening Iran with military action. But does he really mean it? Or is he just blowing hot air?’ she said.

Pletka said, ‘There is an enormous amount of uncertainty around the president’s intentions, and that uncertainty is an opportunity for the Iranians to exploit.’

The Middle East Institute’s Vatanka said he believed that Trump could claim a potential win he can sell at home and say he got a better deal than President Obama did with the JCPOA, if Iran were to agree to permanently keep its enrichment level to a low level, unlike the expiration dates included in the JCPOA.

A key moderate Democrat is warning his party they are heading the ‘wrong’ way on trade.

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, was one of the few Democrats to express some optimism at President Donald Trump’s support for tariffs, specifically his move to add a 10% baseline duty to all U.S. imports. 

Golden noted in a brief interview with Fox News Digital on Thursday that he himself proposed legislation for a 10% universal tariff earlier this year and in the previous Congress.

When asked how his stance on tariffs has been received by fellow House Democrats, Golden said, ‘Well, I think that they are moving in the wrong direction when it comes to trade.’

‘I think it’s been a knee-jerk reaction to the president,’ the Maine Democrat explained of the more recent furor.

He said the Democratic Party he joined in his ‘formative years’ was ‘the party that was warning about things like the World Trade Organization or [the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)].’

‘It has kind of, I think, had a sudden movement in the opposite direction, and that’s unfortunate,’ Golden said. ‘You’ve got to look beyond, you know, who the president is…to ask themselves what would be good for rural communities or working-class people, or cities like Detroit, whatever it may be – those who have been hit hardest by the existing trade regime.’

He added, however, ‘I think that this debate has been brewing since the ’90s, so it’s not only about Trump.’

Golden has been known to break from his own party on issues like trade, border security, and notably, former President Joe Biden’s student loan relief efforts.

He won his seat in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District by less than 1% in 2024, while Trump carried the district by 10%.

He said on Wednesday that he was ‘pleased’ Trump’s tariff plan lined up with his own ideas for a universal tax on foreign goods.

‘I’m eager to work with the president to fix the broken ‘free trade’ system that made multinational corporations rich but ruined manufacturing communities across the country. But tariffs must be paired with policies that prioritize American families’ prosperity.’

He pointed out, however, that Trump ‘introduced a number of new tariff policies’ alongside the 10% universal tax, and that he would need time to review the policies in detail before weighing in on them further.

Trump’s plan involves a 10% blanket tariff on all imports into the U.S., as well as reciprocal tariffs as high as nearly 50% on both adversaries and allies.

Golden added, ‘We need to make sure that the new approach benefits working people — that means supporting unions, the trades and apprenticeship programs, cutting regulations that hold back production, unleashing American energy and using tariff revenue to support domestic manufacturers that create good-paying jobs for Americans.’

‘Tariffs are a first step in rewriting a rigged trade system, but they cannot be the last one.’

Former President Barack Obama told a crowd Thursday night that some sacrifice might be necessary in order to resist President Donald Trump’s policies.

Obama spoke at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, on Thursday and accused the Trump administration of trying to destroy the post-World War II international order, according to the Washington Post.

During the speech, Obama called Trump’s behavior ‘contrary to the basic compact we have as Americans’ and called on students to do more in order to resist Trump’s policies.

‘It has been easy during most of our lifetimes to say you are a progressive, or say you are for social justice, or say you are for free speech, and not have to pay a price for it…And now we’re in one of those moments when…it’s not enough just to say you’re for something. You may actually have to do something and possibly sacrifice a little bit,’ Obama said.

Obama also said law firms and universities need to take a more active role in resisting Trump, arguing there would be massive pushback if he tried to sanction law firms.

‘It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent now would have tolerated behavior like that from me or a whole bunch of my predecessors,’ Obama said.

Obama said he is ‘deeply concerned with a federal government that threatens universities if they don’t give up students who are exercising their right to free speech.’

‘All of you have grown up in an international order that was created by America after World War II. … This is an important moment because in the last two months, the U.S. government has been trying to destroy that order,’ Obama said. ‘Democracy is pretty recent in its vintage. An international order where you cooperate instead of fight is new. It’s fragile.’

The Thursday night speech at Hamilton College was not recorded.

Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Syrian military airfields this week, in what officials confirmed to Fox News Digital was ‘intended to send a clear message to Turkey not to interfere with Israeli aerial operations in Syrian airspace.’ 

The escalation marks a turning point in Jerusalem’s stance toward Ankara, as Turkey attempts to expand its military presence in Syria amid regional instability.

The Israeli Defense Forces struck strategic assets at both the Hama military airport and the T-4 airbase, including runways, fuel storage sites, radar systems and weapons caches. The strikes follow weeks of intelligence gathering by the Israeli air force, which tracked military assets in the targeted bases. 

The airbases, which had been under the control of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, are now reportedly being eyed by Turkey for expanded use and the deployment of air defense systems.

Turkey has signaled growing ambitions in Syria. Reports from Middle East Eye indicate that Turkish forces have begun moves to take control of the T-4 base and are planning to install air defense systems there. Since the fall of Assad in December, Ankara has accelerated negotiations with Syria’s interim government over a potential defense pact.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry reacted sharply to the Israeli strikes, labeling Israel’s government as ‘racist and fundamentalist,’ accusing it of expansionist ambitions. ‘Israel’s attacks in Syria, without any provocation, are inconceivable and indicate a policy that thrives on conflict,’ a ministry spokesperson said. The statement further condemned Israel’s military operations as a threat to regional security. 

Fox News Digital requests for comment to the Turkish embassy spokesman in Washington, D.C., were not returned.

Dr. Sinan Ciddi, a Turkey expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is attempting to capitalize on the regional vacuum left by Russia and Iran.

‘Erdogan is trying to reignite Turkey’s influence in the region as a sort of neo-Ottoman power,’ said Ciddi. ‘He sees Iran’s proxies weakened, Russia overstretched, and is positioning Turkey to dominate the region — particularly through military footholds like the airbases.’

Ciddi said Erdogan’s long game includes projecting power in Syria, currying favor with the new government in Damascus and convincing the U.S. to grant Turkey access to F-35 fighter jets in exchange for ‘managing’ Syria.

‘Erdogan wants to go to Trump and say, ‘I’m the big guy here. Leave Syria to me, just give me the F-35s,’’ Ciddi said. ‘But Israel sees this as a direct threat. Bombing the T-4 runway was a clear message: you’re not welcome here.’

The Turkish leader’s recent inflammatory rhetoric — including prayers for the destruction of Israel during a Ramadan service — has further alarmed Israeli and American observers.

During a recent webinar hosted by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman called for urgent diplomatic intervention.

‘There ought to be some quiet discussions with Turkey about toning down the rhetoric about Israel — threats to destroy it, whether coming from the president or his son at rallies,’ said Edelman. ‘There needs to be some kind of effort to deconflict over Syrian airspace.’

Edelman also warned that renewed F-35 sales to Turkey must come with conditions: ‘If Turkey is actually going to possess the F-35, there has to be some very clear understandings about where they can use it.’

Alan Makovsky, JINSA Eastern Mediterranean Policy Project member said, ‘We can never assume statements like this are just rhetoric,’ adding, ‘Erdogan has alluded in the past to being able to ‘come suddenly one night’ — we have to take that seriously.’

Inside Israel, officials are closely watching Turkey’s moves in Syria. Avner Golov, vice president of Mind Israel, emphasized that the current crisis reflects a deeper ideological threat.

‘Iran is clearly the head of the radical camp, but Erdogan is trying to position himself as the second head — and he’s no less dangerous in terms of potential,’ he said. ‘He doesn’t use proxies the same way Iran does. He intervenes directly, including inside Israel through Palestinian citizens and political activism.’

‘Israel has diplomatic ties with Turkey, but Erdogan keeps blocking meaningful security cooperation in NATO’ Golov added. ‘Now that Turkey is moving south into Syria, we [Israel] need to escalate the rules of engagement. We can’t allow Turkey to create a long-range air defense umbrella on our border.’

Golov said the current administration needs to understand that Erdogan’s ambitions go beyond Syria. ‘He wants to become a patron state, to control the skies, and to prevent Israeli operations by claiming we’re violating Syrian sovereignty. But it’s not about sovereignty — it’s about power and shaping the new Middle East in Muslim Brotherhood colors.’

On the recent protests against the jailing of the mayor of Istanbul, Ciddi said, ‘We’ve seen a great challenge to Erdogan with these rising public protests — probably the biggest since the 2013 Gezi protests … jailing an opposition candidate before they even run is a clear sign of weakness. Erdogan doesn’t care about international criticism or economic fallout — all he cares about is maintaining his regime. That’s not strength, it’s desperation.’

For arguably the first time in his political career, President Donald Trump is asking his voters to take a big leap of faith regarding his administration’s tariff policy. 

I decided to travel to small-town Maryland and Ohio to try to find out just how much slack Trump voters are willing to cut him amid the uncertainty of this trade policy. What I found is that Trump has a lot more runway to play with before his support may or may not start to crumble.

Cumberland, Md., is a charming and sleepy hamlet near the Pennsylvania border which, like so many in the area, grew up around the railroad, and it shows. Trestles and 19th-century buildings abound, freight trains cut their fearless way right through the small downtown.

There I met Fred and his son Chris, who were eating dinner next to me at a local establishment. Fred’s bright red ‘Trump Was Right About Everything’ hat seemed like a bit of a clue that he had voted for the president, so we got to talking.

‘None,’ Fred told me when I asked if he was starting to have any doubts. The retired Navy veteran was especially pleased by the selection of Pete Hegseth as secretary of the Department of Defense. ‘He’s a serviceman,’ Fred told me. ‘He can handle it.’

I hear that from about nine out of 10 vets I talk to.

Fred’s son Chris, also a Navy vet, was a bit more circumspect. On the subject of tariffs and more broadly inflation, he said, ‘Trump ran on making things cheaper, not more expensive, but I’m still willing to trust him.’

‘Nothing happens overnight and without work,’ came some fatherly advice from Fred.

Now Chris has a point. Trump absolutely ran on imposing tariffs, but it was never clear if that was a negotiating tactic or an overall economic policy. We still don’t really know. Deals could still be cut, but Trump did not run on short-term economic pain, something all of his supporters I talked to admitted, but also accepted.

Later that night, I met four guys in their 30s, who work in the local energy industry, and once again, three of them were entirely on board.

‘I don’t think he has done enough,’ one quipped sarcastically about the avalanche of actions taken by Trump.

Another said Trump’s ac tions have strengthened his support.

‘A couple years ago, I was not politically aligned with either party, but now that Trump has become the president, and Elon is trying to eliminate, with the DOGE, the fraud and the illogical spending that is happening, I am totally for that.’ He added, ‘I am more happy now that I voted for Trump than I was when I voted for Trump.’

About two hours northwest of Cumberland lies tiny Columbiana, Ohio. Unlike the cozy Cumberland nestled in the mountains, Columbiana is a small place more of strip malls than town squares, but not without its own charming haunts to discover.

One of those is Factory 46, a restaurant and bar tucked behind one of the ubiquitous malls, where Joe, in his 20’s who has lived here his whole life, slings the drinks and grub.

There I met another father and son, again in the same industry, this time coal mining, and this time it was the dad who let me ask him a few questions on video. For both of them, removing the tax on overtime was a huge issue.

‘It’s killing the working man,’ the dad told me, and when I asked if he thought Trump could really do it, he absolutely did. He also told me, ‘I’d love to see him bring the coal industry back. Obama took it from us. I can understand gas, we need gas, it’s awesome, but we need both.’ 

The theme of no regrets remained steady for these two, as it did for Joe’s mom, who came in to visit a little while after. 

One thing that became clear, especially in Ohio, is that when Democrats and the media scream about how tariffs will tank the stock market and make foreign goods more expensive, many think our so-called prosperity came at the cost of domestic manufacturing and at the expense of towns like theirs.

The voters in these small towns very much see themselves as the losers in the game of globalism, and they are not too upset about its rules being changed.

Trump’s poll numbers have dipped a bit. He’s about two points underwater, though still higher than he was this time in his first term. And based on my conversations with his supporters this week, I do not expect a sharp decline anytime soon.

No, his people are willing to give Trump time, but make no mistake, in the long run, they are expecting results.