New Delhi (India) February 19:US President Donald Trump has warned Iran to come to a “meaningful deal,” or “bad things will happen” with Washington. The warning comes as a massive American military buildup intensifies in the Middle East.
"It's proven to be over the years not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to make a meaningful deal otherwise bad things happen," Trump said.
Karoline Urges Iran: Deal with Trump Now
Earlier Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed out that progress was made in the Geneva negotiations, but said the United States remained “far apart” on some significant issues from Iran.
The US hopes that Iran will return with more details in the next couple of weeks. It would be wise for Iran to do a deal with the US and we’re sure it will, Leavitt said, as Trump once again suggested military action.
"Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration," she said.
Iran Shields Key Site After Israeli Strikes
So far in the meantime, satellite images revealed that Iran has constructed a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site, which also was covered with soil, Al Jazeera reported. This indicates some progress made in operations at a site allegedly bombed by Israel in 2024. The images show Iran has buried tunnel entrances at a nuclear site bombarded by the United States in Tehran’s 12-day war with Israel last year.
US Slaps Visas Ban on Iranian Officials
US visa restrictions on Iranian officials and executives that include repressing the government following recent anti-government protests and restricting internet access come as the Trump administration increases pressure on Tehran while nuclear negotiations continue.
The State Department said it is now targeting 18 Iranian officials and leaders of the telecommunications industry and their immediate family members for the crackdown, and for the blackout of communications, which it says denies Iranians the right to free expression and peaceful assembly.
Strait of Hormuz Drills Spark Oil Fears
Trump made fresh threats of military force in January after a deadly Iranian clampdown on antigovernment protesters. Tehran reacted by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz – an important oil-exporting route for Gulf oil – and threatening to strike US military bases there.
It also raised concerns of regional conflict and led to Gulf states diplomatic moves.
Geneva Talks: Principles Set, Red Lines Clash
Iran and the United States brokered preliminary indirect talks in Oman on February 6, then met in Geneva on Tuesday. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the sides had come to agreements on “guiding principles” for a possible deal, but the United States Vice President, JD Vance said Tehran had not accepted all of Washington’s red lines.
The US has been pushing Iran to forgo uranium enrichment on its own soil and has sought to broaden the negotiations to cover non-nuclear topics like Tehran’s missile stockpile.
Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, and it offers a willingness to discuss limits only in return for relief from sanctions. It has dismissed plans for zero uranium enrichment and ruled out negotiations over its missile capabilities.