Trump Gives Ultimatum To Iran With 15-Day Deadline On Nuclear Talks

written by Oneindia Staff Thu Feb 19, 9:42 pm Source

International

-Madhuri Adnal

By Oneindia Staff

Updated: Friday, February 20, 2026, 8:12 [IST]

Joint Iranian-Russian naval drills near the Strait of Hormuz, a large US military buildup in the Persian Gulf, and stalled nuclear negotiations in Geneva are heightening fears of conflict. As both Washington and Tehran speak of readiness for confrontation, long-running disputes over missiles, militias and sanctions continue without resolution.

US President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, set a tight timeline for diplomacy. Trump said a period of 10 to 15 days is "enough time" for Iran to secure a deal, yet negotiators still disagree on whether Tehran must dismantle its missile programme and halt backing for regional armed groups.

Joint Iranian-Russian naval drills near the Strait of Hormuz, along with a US military buildup in the Persian Gulf and stalled nuclear negotiations in Geneva, are heightening fears of conflict, with both sides speaking of readiness for confrontation.US President Donald Trump has set a tight timeline for a deal with Iran, while military pressure has been building for months, including live-fire exercises and carrier deployments.

Iran US Strait of Hormuz Persian Gulf tensions

The White House said Iran has agreed to prepare a written proposal on US concerns, but Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed that the sides remain "far apart." At the inaugural meeting of Trump’s "Board of Peace," the president again insisted on strict terms for any agreement with Tehran.

"It's proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran, and we have to make a meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad things happen," Trump said. The comments underscored US demands just weeks before a mid-March target for full military readiness in the region.

Iran US Strait of Hormuz Persian Gulf military moves

Military pressure on Iran has been building for months. In June, US and Israeli forces carried out a 12-day barrage on nuclear and military facilities, named "Operation Midnight Hammer." Security forces then crushed mass protests in January, and many deaths from that crackdown are still being publicly mourned inside Iran.

This week, Iran held live-fire exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, where about 20 million barrels of oil transit daily. At the same time, Iranian and Russian units staged joint manoeuvres in the Gulf of Oman, including ship-boarding drills, while Iranian authorities warned civilian pilots about rocket activity in the area.

The US response features a parallel show of strength in the Persian Gulf. The USS Gerald R. Ford is sailing through the Atlantic and is expected to join the USS Abraham Lincoln within days. The Pentagon has also sent 50 more combat aircraft, including F-35 and F-22 jets, to regional bases.

Actor	Location	Activity
Iran	Strait of Hormuz	Live-fire naval drills
Iran and Russia	Gulf of Oman	Joint ship-boarding and coordination exercises
United States	Persian Gulf region	Carrier deployment and 50 additional combat aircraft

Internal strains mirror the external tension. Iranians are marking the 40th day of mourning for people killed in the latest anti-government demonstrations. The atmosphere has prompted foreign governments to act, with some European states warning their citizens and staff that the window for safe departures may be closing.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged Poles to leave Iran, saying, "In a few, a dozen, or several dozen hours, the possibility of evacuation will be out of the question," though no detailed intelligence was offered. Germany has started moving non-essential troops from northern Iraq, citing a worsening security situation linked to the regional standoff.

Israel is also preparing for potential escalation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Israeli military is ready for any scenario, including Iranian retaliation. "If Iran attacks Israel, they will experience a response they cannot even imagine," Netanyahu said, as debate continues over the true condition of Iran’s nuclear programme after the 2015 JCPOA and the June strikes.