Tensions Rise: Trump Considers Limited Strike on Iran
US President Donald Trump has said he is considering a limited strike against Iran. Trump had previously ordered a massive build-up of American naval forces in the Middle East, aimed at pressuring Tehran into reaching an agreement to curb its nuclear programme.
The latest threat came after Iran’s foreign minister said a draft proposal for a deal with Washington would be ready within days, following negotiations between the two sides in Geneva earlier this week.
Trump had previously signalled on Thursday (19 February) that “bad things” would happen if Tehran did not reach a deal within 10 days, a deadline he subsequently extended to 15 days.
According to AFP, on Saturday (21 February 2026), when asked by a reporter on Friday (20 February) whether he was considering a limited military strike, Trump replied: “The most I can say is — I’m considering it.”
Following talks in Geneva, Tehran said both sides had agreed to submit a draft of a potential agreement, which Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told US media would be “the next step.”
“I believe in two or three days, it will be ready, and after final confirmation from my superiors, it will be submitted to Steve Witkoff,” he said, referring to Trump’s chief negotiator for the Middle East.
Araghchi also stated that US negotiators had not asked Tehran to end its nuclear enrichment programme, contradicting statements from American officials.
“We have not offered any suspension, and the US side has not requested zero enrichment,” he said in an interview released on Friday (20 February) by US television network MS NOW.
“What we are discussing now is how to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme, including enrichment, is peaceful and will remain peaceful forever,” he added.
His comments contradicted information conveyed by senior US officials, including Trump, who has repeatedly said that Iran must not be permitted to enrich uranium at any level.
Western nations accuse the Islamic Republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran has denied this, whilst insisting on its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.
Iran, for its part, is seeking to negotiate the lifting of Western sanctions that have proven severely damaging to its economy.
Those economic difficulties triggered protests last December, which evolved into a nationwide anti-government movement last month. The mass demonstrations prompted a crackdown by Iranian authorities, resulting in thousands of deaths, according to human rights groups.