President Donald Trump on Friday said he was considering a limited military strike against Iran, hours after Tehran vowed a “decisive” response to any aggression and as negotiations over its nuclear program remain stalled. Trump gave Iran a deadline of “10 to 15 days” to reach a deal, warning of “really bad things” if it fails to do so.
The escalating rhetoric comes as the US has significantly increased its military presence in the Middle East, repositioning naval forces and other warships. While the administration has not explicitly stated the buildup is intended as a direct threat, two US officials, speaking to Reuters, confirmed that military planning for potential strikes has reached an advanced stage, including options targeting individuals and even seeking leadership change in Tehran.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, responded to the threats, stating there was “no military solution” to the nuclear program. He pointed to a previous military campaign against Iranian nuclear facilities, led by Israel with US support in June 2025, as having failed to achieve its objective. “That has been tested last year. There were huge attacks on our facilities – they killed and assassinated our scientists – but they couldn’t kill our nuclear programme,” Araghchi said in an interview with MS Now.
Araghchi revealed that indirect discussions with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Geneva this week had yielded agreement on “main guiding principles,” but cautioned that a deal was not imminent. He indicated a draft counterproposal could be ready for review by Iranian officials “in the next two or three days,” potentially leading to further US-Iran talks within a week.
The renewed threats from Trump follow a pattern of escalating tensions. He initially threatened strikes in January after Tehran suppressed widespread protests with deadly force. On Friday, Trump claimed “32,000 people were killed over a relatively short period of time” during the crackdown, a figure that remains unverified. The US-based group Hrana, which monitors the human rights situation in Iran, has verified 7,114 deaths and is reviewing another 11,700 cases.
Araghchi disputed Trump’s claim, stating the Iranian government had already published a list of 3,117 deaths related to what he termed a “recent terrorist operation.” He challenged anyone disputing the accuracy of the data to provide evidence.
During the Geneva talks, according to Araghchi, the US did not demand zero uranium enrichment, and Iran did not offer to suspend enrichment activities. The current focus, he said, is on ensuring Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful. “What we are now talking about is how to craft sure that Iran’s nuclear programme, including enrichment, is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever,” he stated.
A White House official countered Araghchi’s comments, reiterating the administration’s position that “Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them, and that they cannot enrich uranium.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday that Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs are illegal has added another layer of complexity to the situation, prompting Trump to announce a latest 10% global tariff. This decision has drawn sharp criticism, with Trump calling the justices a “disgrace to our nation.” The implications of the ruling and the new tariffs are still unfolding, with potential legal battles over tariff refunds expected.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reiterated concerns about the heightened rhetoric and increased military activities in the region, but offered no immediate plans for intervention.
