President Donald Trump stated he is considering a limited strike on Iran, coinciding with a significant naval buildup in the Middle East. This move aims to pressure Tehran into a deal to restrict its nuclear program.
"The most I can say - I am considering it," Trump told reporters. This warning follows Iran's foreign minister indicating a draft agreement with Washington could be ready within days. Earlier, Trump had set a 10-day deadline, later extended to 15, for Tehran to reach a deal, warning that "bad things" would occur otherwise.
Following recent negotiations in Geneva, Iran reported that both sides would submit drafts of a potential agreement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested this next step could be ready for handover to the US negotiator within days. However, Araghchi also stated that U.S. negotiators had not requested Iran cease its nuclear enrichment program, contradicting U.S. officials who insist Iran must not enrich uranium at any level.
Western nations accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies, while asserting its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. Iran, in turn, seeks relief from sanctions impacting its economy. These economic pressures have previously fueled protests within the country.
Trump reiterated his stance on Thursday, emphasizing the need for a "meaningful deal" to avoid negative consequences. Iran's ambassador to the UN warned that U.S. bases would be legitimate targets if such threats were carried out. Araghchi, however, downplayed the urgency, stating, "We only talk with each other how we can have a fast deal."