US President Donald Trump has indicated that Iran is willing to enter negotiations to avoid potential American military action, even as Tehran insists that talks cannot take place under pressure.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “They do want to make a deal.” He revealed that a deadline had been set for Iran to begin discussions, though he did not specify a timeframe. “Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens,” Trump added, referring to the deployment of a US naval carrier group near Iran.
While Washington signalled openness to negotiations, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined Tehran’s position, stating that Iran remains ready for dialogue with the United States only if talks are held on fair and equal terms. He firmly ruled out any compromise on Iran’s defence capabilities.
“Iran is ready to begin negotiations if they take place on an equal footing, based on mutual interests and mutual respect,” Araghchi said, adding, “Iran’s defensive and missile capabilities will never be subject to negotiation.” He also clarified that there are currently no plans to meet US officials to resume talks.
The exchange comes amid repeated warnings from Trump, who has raised the prospect of military action if Iran does not comply with US demands, including restrictions on its nuclear programme and missile development. Iran has warned it would respond to any US strike, while Turkey has offered to mediate between the two sides.
Against this backdrop, Trump has reportedly been briefed on a broader and more aggressive set of military options targeting Iran, according to The New York Times. These proposals include measures to inflict deeper damage on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure or to undermine the authority of the country’s supreme leader, marking a significant escalation compared with options reviewed earlier this month.
Officials cited by the newspaper said the options now under consideration go beyond those examined about two weeks ago, when the administration was focused on addressing unrest in Iran. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of internal military planning.
The updated options reportedly include scenarios involving direct US military action on Iranian soil, such as targeted raids on key facilities. Officials noted that the strategic context has shifted as mass protests in Iran have been forcefully suppressed by authorities, at least for now.
Earlier, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a strong warning to Iran during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday (local time), underscoring Washington’s readiness to use force as the United States continues to deploy warships and air assets across the Middle East amid rising tensions over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Hegseth cautioned Iran against pursuing nuclear weapons, saying the US was prepared to act decisively. “They should not pursue nuclear capabilities, and we will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department,” he said.
Highlighting US military capabilities, Hegseth cited a recent high-profile operation involving the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, calling it an unprecedented display of military precision and authority.
“No other military in the world could have executed such a sophisticated and powerful operation,” Hegseth said, adding that it reflected the level of authority granted to US forces under the current administration.
The developments follow a post by Trump on Truth Social, where he said a “massive armada” led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was moving toward Iran. He urged Tehran to return to negotiations and warned that time was running out to reach an agreement barring nuclear weapons.
“Hopefully Iran will quickly come to the table and negotiate a fair and equitable deal—no nuclear weapons,” Trump wrote, cautioning that failure to do so would lead to consequences “far worse” than previous actions.
Trump also referenced earlier US military strikes, including a June 2025 operation carried out alongside Israel that targeted multiple Iranian nuclear facilities—an action Washington said significantly set back Tehran’s nuclear programme. (Agencies)
