Iran has abruptly called off indirect talks with the United States, citing a threat from Donald Trump that the U.S. president would 'destroy a whole civilization' if Tehran retaliated against any U.S. military action. The move marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations, which have been locked in a dispute over Iran's nuclear program and U.S. sanctions. In a statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said that the U.S. president's remarks had made it impossible for Iran to continue the talks. 'The U.S. has made it clear that it will not stop its threats and will continue to use force, which means that we cannot continue these talks,' Khatibzadeh said. The U.S. had been pushing for a deal to roll back Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions. However, the negotiations have been stalled for weeks over disagreements on key issues, including the pace of sanctions relief and the scope of Iran's nuclear activities. The talks were being held indirectly, with U.S. and Iranian officials meeting in a third country, Oman, to discuss the terms of a potential agreement. Trump's comments, which were made in an interview with a U.S. television network, sparked outrage in Iran. 'If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran,' Trump said. 'We'll end Iran. It will be over.' Iran has vowed to retaliate if its power plants were attacked, and the U.S. has been considering a range of options, including airstrikes and cyberattacks, to disrupt Iran's nuclear program. As the U.S. deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz approaches, tensions are running high in the region. The U.S. has been demanding that Iran allow the strait to remain open, while Iran has threatened to block the waterway if its power plants are attacked. The sudden collapse of the talks has raised concerns that the U.S. and Iran are on the brink of conflict. The U.S. has a large military presence in the region, including aircraft carriers and troops stationed in the Gulf. The European Union has called for restraint and urged the U.S. and Iran to return to the negotiating table. However, it remains to be seen whether the talks can be revived, given the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric from both sides.