Washington Threatens Severe Consequences for Tehran if Nuclear Talks Fail
The ongoing diplomatic exchange between Washington and Tehran highlights the difficulty of reaching a nuclear deal, especially under the maximum pressure policy pursued by the White House
March 29, 2025, 6:27 pm

Washington Threatens Severe Consequences for Tehran if Nuclear Talks Fail

النووي الإيراني \ متداول \ تعبيرية

On Friday, Donald Trump stated that "bad things" will happen to Iran if it fails to reach an agreement on its nuclear program. This came after Tehran announced its formal response to a letter from the U.S. president urging negotiations.

Trump told reporters at the White House, "I would much prefer to reach a solution with Iran. But if we don't, bad things will happen to Iran," according to AFP.

These comments coincided with the announcement by Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, on Thursday, that Tehran had sent a response via Oman to Trump's letter, which called for a new nuclear deal.

Araqchi reiterated Iran's position, stating, "Our policy remains not to engage in direct negotiations under extreme pressure and military threats. However, as in the past, indirect talks may continue," according to Reuters.

The Iranian minister clarified, "Our response contains a detailed message outlining our views on the current situation and President Trump's message." He further confirmed on Friday that Tehran would not negotiate under threats, revealing for the first time during remarks to reporters on the occasion of "Quds Day" that Trump's letter contained threats, stressing, "The Iranian people cannot be addressed with the language of threats."

Araqchi added that Iran had carefully studied the letter and discussed its various aspects, noting that their response was delivered to the U.S. side in an appropriate manner.

He also mentioned ongoing efforts to allow space for diplomacy, denying the accuracy of leaked reports on the contents of Trump's letter, stating that the media's coverage was based on speculation and assumptions.

Some media reports claimed that President Trump gave Tehran a two-month deadline to respond to his letter sent to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in late February.

Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected negotiations under pressure and threats, while hinting at the possibility of indirect talks.

It’s important to note that Trump withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018 during his first term and imposed strict sanctions on Tehran, then in February reinstated the "maximum pressure" policy, which includes efforts to completely stop Iran's oil exports, despite his stated intention to reach a new nuclear agreement.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.