US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that he is considering a limited military strike against Iran, following a massive naval buildup in the Middle East designed to force Tehran into a new nuclear agreement.
Reporters asked the President if he was contemplating a specific military operation during a press briefing on Friday afternoon. “The most I can say — I am considering it,” Trump answered, maintaining his characteristic pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.
Furthermore, Trump suggested that “bad things” would happen if the two nations do not reach a diplomatic resolution soon. He initially set a 10-day deadline for a deal, though he subsequently extended that timeframe to 15 days total. Consequently, the Pentagon has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford to join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf.
A Potential Breakthrough in Geneva
Despite the threats, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that a draft proposal for an agreement is almost ready, as he told US media that the document would be finalized within days following recent high-level negotiations held in Geneva.
“I believe that in the next two, three days, that would be ready,” Araghchi stated regarding the draft proposal. He intends to hand the document to Steve Witkoff, Trump’s lead negotiator, once superiors in Tehran provide final confirmation.
While Washington has historically demanded “zero enrichment,” Araghchi claimed that US negotiators have not officially requested a total shutdown. “We have not offered any suspension, and the US side has not asked for zero enrichment,” he noted on Friday.
However, Trump continues to insist publicly that Iran must never possess the capability to enrich uranium at any level. Tehran maintains that its program serves civilian purposes, yet it desperately seeks relief from the sanctions strangling its domestic economy.
Iran faces significant internal pressure as economic hardships continue to spark nationwide anti-government movements across the country’s major cities. Therefore, Araghchi emphasized that Tehran has no reason to delay a fast deal that terminates these crippling financial penalties.
While Israel remains on “defensive alert,” both sides have traded military threats for weeks to gain leverage at the table.
