President Donald Trump has set a short deadline for Iran to accept a new nuclear deal, and he made clear in his State of the Union address that the clock is ticking.
During his speech, Trump repeated that he will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. He said negotiations are ongoing, but Tehran has not agreed to permanently give up nuclear arms. He stressed that words alone are not enough and that he wants a firm commitment.
A Tight Diplomatic Window
Trump first outlined the timeline in mid February. He said Iran would have about 10 to 15 days to show it is serious about a deal. If not, he warned there would be consequences.
At the State of the Union, he doubled down. He told lawmakers talks are underway, yet Iran has not accepted his main condition. According to Trump, the United States is waiting to hear a clear pledge that Iran will never pursue a nuclear weapon.
Reminder of Military Force
The president also pointed to the 2025 strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, known as Operation Midnight Hammer. He said the mission destroyed key parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and warned Tehran not to rebuild.
Now, with talks taking place in Geneva, Trump has paired diplomacy with a visible military buildup. He has not detailed his next step if talks fail. However, he has said that “bad things” will happen if Iran rejects a meaningful agreement.
U.S. Military Buildup in the Region
The United States has deployed significant naval power to the Middle East. The USS Gerald R. Ford arrived at Souda Bay in Crete and joined the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region. Together, their strike groups include multiple warships and destroyers armed with cruise missiles.
In addition, U.S. F 22 Raptor fighter jets landed at Ovda Airbase in southern Israel. Analysts say these aircraft are designed to suppress enemy air defenses and support long range strike missions. The earlier 2025 operation relied on B 2 bombers and heavy bunker buster munitions to target deeply buried nuclear sites.
This time, the buildup suggests a broader range of options. Iranian officials have warned that any new strike would trigger retaliation against U.S. forces and regional allies.
Rising Tensions and Disputed Claims
Trump also claimed Iranian authorities killed about 32,000 protesters during demonstrations earlier this year. That figure is far higher than estimates from independent groups and Iran’s own reports.
Meanwhile, administration officials have signaled that any deal must require Iran to stop all uranium enrichment. They also want strict verification measures to prevent Tehran from restarting its program. Iranian leaders have repeatedly objected to those terms and have dismissed U.S. threats.
With the deadline already in motion, the coming days will prove critical. Either both sides reach an agreement, or tensions in the Middle East could escalate further.
