WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Friday that he is considering a limited strike on Iran while sending a major naval buildup to the Middle East, aiming to pressure Tehran to reach a nuclear deal. The announcement followed statements from Iranian officials indicating that a draft proposal for an agreement with Washington could be ready in days.
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Trump’s remarks came after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that both sides would submit drafts of a potential agreement following talks in Geneva earlier this week. Araghchi clarified that US negotiators had not demanded a suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme, contrasting with repeated statements from US officials insisting that Iran must halt uranium enrichment entirely.
President Donald Trump warned Friday that limited strikes against Iran are possible even as the country’s top diplomat said Tehran expects to have a proposed deal ready in the next few days following nuclear talks with the United States. pic.twitter.com/3E2e1wpChy
— GENERAL OF THE U.S. ARMY TOM S. GATES ★ 🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@GENTomSGates83) February 21, 2026
The president has warned Tehran that failure to reach a deal could lead to “bad things,” initially giving a 10-day deadline, later extended to 15 days. In parallel, Washington has deployed additional warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, to the Gulf region, while Iranian forces conducted naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani warned that US bases and assets would be considered legitimate targets if military action is taken. Despite rising tensions, Araghchi emphasized that “there is no ultimatum,” and that both sides aim to finalize a fast and mutually acceptable deal to end sanctions that have heavily affected Iran’s economy.
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The Israeli army has placed forces on defensive alert, though public guidance remains unchanged. The situation continues to escalate as both countries maintain a combination of diplomacy and military readiness, with potential repercussions for regional stability and global energy markets.