President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a 10- to 15-day ultimatum to Iran to reach a deal regarding its nuclear program, warning of unspecified but severe consequences should negotiations fail. The declaration, made at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, D.C., coincided with a continued U.S. Military buildup in the Middle East, including the dispatch of a second aircraft carrier group to the Mediterranean.
“We may have to take it a step further or we may not,” Trump stated, offering no specifics on potential military action. “Maybe we’re going to develop a deal. You’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.” During a subsequent flight to Georgia, Trump reiterated the timeline, stating, “I would think that would be enough time, 10, 15 days, pretty much maximum.”
Iran responded swiftly, lodging a formal protest with the United Nations. In a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iran’s ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, characterized Trump’s comments as signaling a “real risk of military aggression.” The letter affirmed Iran’s defensive posture, stating it does not seek conflict but would respond “decisively and proportionately” to any attack, targeting “all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region.” The United States, according to the letter, would be held “fully and directly responsible for any unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences.”
Russia echoed concerns about escalating tensions, issuing a statement urging restraint amid the U.S. Military deployment. The U.S. Military buildup includes the movement of F-35 fighter jets and tankers to the region, according to reports.
The current impasse follows intensive, but ultimately unsuccessful, indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva this week. These negotiations aimed to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear agreement from which Trump withdrew the U.S. In 2025. The JCPOA had placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran’s nuclear program remains a central point of contention with Israel, which has reportedly engaged in aerial strikes targeting Iranian facilities.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, recently threatened to sink U.S. Warships, further escalating the rhetoric. JD Vance, a U.S. Senator, stated that the U.S. Is seeking a nuclear deal with Iran through diplomacy, but acknowledged “another option” exists.
As of Friday, February 20, 2026, the outcome of the negotiations remains uncertain, with the 10- to 15-day deadline set by President Trump looming. No further official statements have been released by either the White House or Iranian officials.
