The United States has issued new threats against Tehran after a second round of nuclear talks, as Iran and Russia announced joint naval drills in the Sea of Oman to deter any “unilateral action” in the region.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that “Iran would be very wise to make a deal” with US President Donald Trump, after indirect talks in the Swiss city of Geneva ended without a significant breakthrough. Leavitt told reporters that while some progress was made on Tuesday, “we’re still very apart on some issues”.
Trump – who has deployed two US aircraft carriers and thousands of troops to the Gulf region – escalated his rhetoric on social media.
“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal,” the US may need to use an Indian Ocean airbase in the Chagos Islands, “in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime”, he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
A previous negotiating effort collapsed last year when Israel launched attacks on Iran, triggering a 12-day war that Washington joined in by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
Trump issued new threats of military action in January following a deadly Iranian crackdown on antigovernment protesters. Tehran responded by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz – a vital oil export route for Gulf oil – and warning it could strike US military bases in the region.
The exchange heightened fears of a regional war and prompted diplomatic efforts by Gulf states, including Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, to prevent escalation. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the sides had agreed on “guiding principles” for a potential deal, but US Vice President JD Vance said Tehran had yet to acknowledge all of Washington’s red lines.
The US is demanding that Iran forgo uranium enrichment on its soil and has sought to widen negotiations to include non-nuclear issues, such as Tehran’s missile stockpile.
Iran insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and says it is willing to discuss limits only in exchange for sanctions relief. It has rejected zero uranium enrichment and ruled out talks on its missile capabilities.
Even as diplomacy resumed, the US continues to build up its military presence near Iran. Trump has ordered a second aircraft carrier to the region, with the first, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its nearly 80 aircraft, positioned about 700 kilometres (435 miles) from the Iranian coast as of Sunday, according to satellite imagery.
Source; Here
