ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump on Thursday signaled he will decide whether to bomb Iran within 10 days amid a massive US military buildup in the Gulf and reports the White House is weighing fresh strikes.
Speaking at the inaugural US-led Board of Peace session in Washington, Trump urged Iran to resolve its nuclear program.
“Now is the time for Iran to join us on a path that will complete what we’re doing, and If they join us, that’ll be great,” Trump said.
He then warned that Iran “must make a deal” or risk “a very different path.”
“They cannot continue to threaten the stability of the entire region, and they must make a deal,” he said.
Trump said the world would find out "over the next, probably, 10 days" whether the US would reach a deal with Iran after indicating earlier this week that the process would take one month. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expecting to deliver a draft of a “coherent framework” for the US within two weeks, Iran's state-run news agency IRNA reported Wednesday.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated this week despite indirect talks in Geneva over Iran’s nuclear program. Oman has mediated two rounds of negotiations in February. Washington is demanding Iran curb its uranium enrichment while Iran insists its program is conducted for peaceful purposes.
US military buildup, Iranian drills
US news organizations reported the White House is weighing strikes on Iran as it deploys additional warships and fighter jets to the region.
UK media reported Thursday the British government would not allow the US to use its bases to strike Iran after Trump signaled he may launch strikes from a joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia, and a UK airfield.
“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the [UK] Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime — An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday.
As the US and Iran negotiated on Tuesday, IRNA reported that Tehran was planning joint military exercises with Russia and China in the Strait of Hormuz - the passageway for one-fifth of the world's oil supply. Iran temporarily blocked the waterway during the talks to hold its own drills.
Israel warns of retaliation against Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel would retaliate if Tehran launches an attack.
“If [Iran’s] ayatollahs make a mistake and attack us, they will receive the response they cannot even imagine,” Netanyahu warned in a televised address during an Israeli military ceremony.
Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are simultaneously leading negotiations with Iran and between Russia and Ukraine, after negotiating the Hamas-Israel ceasefire in October. Trump named them Envoys of Peace on Thursday.