The White House warned Iran that it would be "prudent" to reach a deal with the United States, while President Donald Trump again raised the possibility of military action amid the resumption of indirect talks brokered by Oman. The statements come in a context of high tension after recent protests and a fragile diplomatic momentum between Tehran and Washington.
First modification: 02/19/2026 - 06:23
The White House warned Wednesday that Iran would be "very cautious" to reach a deal with the United States, as President Donald Trump again hinted at possible military action.
The two sides recently resumed indirect talks, brokered by Oman, after Trump repeatedly threatened military intervention against Iran following a deadly crackdown on protests last month.
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A previous attempt at negotiations failed when Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran last June, starting a 12-day war that Washington briefly joined to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.
"Iran would be very prudent to reach an agreement with President Trump and his administration," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
On Wednesday, Trump again suggested that the United States could attack Iran in a post on his Truth Social network, as the US military deployment in the Middle East intensifies.
He warned the UK not to give up sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, noting that the Diego Garcia air base could be needed if Iran does not agree to a deal, “to eradicate a possible attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime.”
Read also: What does the lease of Diego García Island consist of and why does Starmer's decision irritate Trump?
Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araqchi, said Iran is "drafting" a framework for future talks with the United States.
Iran and the United States held a second round of negotiations mediated by Oman on Tuesday, February 17, in Geneva.
Araqchi then indicated that Tehran and Washington had agreed on "guiding principles," although US Vice President JD Vance maintained that Iran has not yet recognized all of Washington's red lines.
"We don't want war"
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards were conducting military maneuvers in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for the global transport of oil and gas.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted Wednesday: “We don't want war,” but suggested Tehran cannot give in to American demands.
"Since the day I took office, I have believed that war must be put aside. But if they try to impose their will on us, humiliate us and demand that we bow our heads at any cost, should we accept it?"
That same day, Araqchi had a telephone conversation with Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear agency.
During the call, the Iranian minister "underlined the Islamic Republic of Iran's focus on drafting an initial and coherent framework to advance future talks," according to a statement from his ministry.
Read alsoIran claims to have reached an "understanding" with the US after a new round of nuclear dialogue
Tehran has suspended some of its cooperation with the IAEA and restricted inspectors' access to facilities bombed by Israel and the United States, accusing the agency of bias and failing to condemn the attacks.
Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that Washington will prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons "one way or another."
"They have been very clear about what they would do with nuclear weapons. It is totally unacceptable," Wright declared in Paris, on the sidelines of meetings of the International Energy Agency.
Demonstrations of military force
The Oman-brokered talks seek to avoid the possibility of US military action, while Tehran demands the lifting of sanctions that are weakening its economy.
Iran has insisted that discussions be limited to the nuclear program, although Washington has previously pushed to include Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for armed groups in the region.
Although dialogue has resumed, the United States has also reinforced its military presence near Iran.
Washington ordered the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the region. The first, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its nearly 80 aircraft, were about 700 kilometers off the Iranian coast on Sunday, according to satellite images.
Iran, for its part, has sought to showcase its military capabilities: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began a series of maneuvers in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
Iranian politicians have repeatedly threatened to block the strait, one of the world's main routes for transporting oil and gas.
On Tuesday, state television reported that Tehran would close parts of the sea lane for security reasons during the exercises.
This article is an adaptation of its original in English
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