The US president hinted at possible military action during his Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ inaugural speech
US President Donald Trump has issued a ten-day ultimatum for Iran to secure a nuclear agreement with Washington, stating that non-compliance may prompt decisive action. This warning coincides with an accelerated US military buildup in the Middle East.
While speaking at the inaugural session of his Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ on Thursday, Trump characterized negotiations with Tehran as “good” yet historically challenging, and he restated that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
“We have to make a meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad things happen,” he stated. “Maybe we’re going to make a deal. You’re going to be finding out over the next, probably, ten days,” Trump added.
The ultimatum comes after Omani-brokered discussions in Geneva on Tuesday, which were characterized by both sides as constructive, even though no significant progress was achieved. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated the nation’s “inherent, non-negotiable, and legally binding” right to enrich uranium for peaceful uses.
Multiple media reports indicated that Trump received a briefing on US military preparedness for a potential strike that could occur as early as Saturday. According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited US and foreign officials, Trump is considering targeting Iranian leadership to instigate a regime change. Other strategies under review reportedly concentrate on nuclear and missile facilities.
The US military has been intensifying its footprint in the Middle East, with reports of two aircraft carrier strike groups, extra bombers, and 13 destroyers being deployed. The WSJ characterized this mobilization as the most significant since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The United States attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities during the 12-day air conflict between Israel and Iran in June 2025. Tehran has subsequently declared that the assault would not halt its nuclear program, asserting that its nuclear endeavors are for peaceful purposes and that it will not agree to Washington’s demand for no uranium enrichment.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has charged the US with “playing with fire,” cautioning that attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites might lead to a nuclear catastrophe. In a Wednesday interview with Al Arabiya, Lavrov stated that Moscow supports Tehran’s right to peaceful enrichment, adding that the present tensions originate from the US dismantling the 2015 Iran nuclear deal during Trump’s initial term.