Novara Live Iran Threatens Retaliation Against Trump’s Criminal Threats
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Apr 6, 2026 
Daniel Levy, former Israeli negotiator turned Middle East analyst, and David Wearing, University of Sussex international relations scholar. They unpack Trump’s public threats to Iran and Tehran’s warnings of retaliation. They examine disputed US accounts of a rescue inside Iran and debate strikes on Iranian petrochemical and academic sites. Tensions, strategy and alarming rhetoric take center stage.
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Trump's Open Threats Break Diplomatic Norms
- Donald Trump explicitly threatened to bomb Iran's civilian infrastructure, framing it as collective punishment rather than military necessity.
- His expletive-filled True Social posts and shifting deadlines signal desperation and a willingness to openly endorse actions widely considered war crimes.
Israel Driving Escalation To Shape US Action
- Israel appears to be driving escalation by striking Iranian petrochemical and energy infrastructure to shape U.S. responses and prevent a ceasefire.
- Daniel Levy argues Israel benefits from prolonging destruction to degrade Iranian state capacity and secure American military involvement.
Iran Rejects Short Ceasefire Without Guarantees
- Pakistan's two-stage ceasefire proposal (45-day pause, then negotiations) was considered but rejected by Iran for lacking guarantees like lifting sanctions and reconstruction.
- Iran fears a temporary pause would simply let opponents resupply then resume attacks, so it insists on more permanent terms.