US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran has just 10 to 15 days to reach a new nuclear agreement with Washington, cautioning that “bad things” will follow if Tehran fails to comply.
Trump said Thursday that the timeframe should be “enough time” for Iran to commit to ending its nuclear programme, as the United States intensifies its military buildup in the region.
“It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran, and we have to make a meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad things happen,” Trump said.
The warning comes as a second US aircraft carrier the largest in the American fleet approaches the Middle East, reinforcing what analysts describe as one of the most significant US military deployments to the region in recent years.
According to the Soufan Center, an additional 50 US combat aircraft including F-35s, F-22s and F-16s have been deployed to bases across Arab Gulf states, adding to hundreds already stationed there.
“The deployments reinforce Trump’s threat restated on a nearly daily basis to proceed with a major air and missile campaign on the regime if talks fail,” the think tank said.
Iran Drills with Russia, Signals Readiness to Respond
Amid rising tensions, Iran conducted annual military drills with Russia on Thursday, signalling it would respond forcefully if negotiations collapse.
Earlier in the week, Iranian forces staged live-fire exercises in the Strait of Hormuz a critical waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil flows.
Tehran maintains it has not enriched uranium since US and Israeli strikes last summer. Trump had previously claimed those strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear as Tehran has barred international inspectors.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, while the US and its allies suspect it is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.
In a letter to the United Nations Security Council, Iran’s ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said Tehran does not seek war but would respond “decisively and proportionately” to any American aggression.
“In such circumstances, all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets,” Iravani wrote.
Domestic Unrest and European Alarm
Tensions are also simmering inside Iran, where mourners have held ceremonies marking 40 days since security forces killed protesters during nationwide demonstrations sparked by hyperinflation and rising living costs. Despite threats from authorities, some gatherings featured anti-government chants.
Human rights groups estimate that up to 30,000 people may have been killed in protests that began in late December.
In Europe, concerns are mounting over the risk of a broader regional war. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged Polish citizens to leave Iran immediately, warning that evacuation may soon become impossible.
Germany’s military also confirmed it had relocated a “mid-two-digit number” of non-essential personnel from a base in northern Iraq, while maintaining troops in Irbil to help run a multinational training camp for Iraqi forces.
With military forces gathering and diplomatic channels under strain, fears are growing that the coming days could determine whether the standoff escalates into open conflict across the Middle East.
