Trump sets 10–15 day deadline for Iran deal, warns U.S. may “take it a step further”
President Donald Trump said Iran has at most 15 days to reach an agreement addressing concerns starting with its nuclear program, suggesting the United States would attack if it does not. “We’re either going to get a deal or it’s going to be unfortunate for them,” Trump said aboard Air Force One.
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Pressed on timing, Trump added: “I would think that would be enough time — ten, 15 days, pretty much maximum.” Earlier at an event in Washington, he cautioned that the United States “may have to take it a step further” without an agreement, telling the audience, “You’re going to be finding out over the next probably ten days.”
The comments underscore a compressed window for diplomacy and the prospect of a sharp escalation should talks fail. Trump’s deadline places immediate pressure on Tehran and on intermediaries trying to bridge longstanding gaps over Iran’s nuclear activity and regional posture.
Trump’s friend and roving envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met Tuesday indirectly in Geneva with Iran’s top diplomat, who said there was progress, according to the president’s remarks. The indirect contact signals an attempt to keep channels open even as the White House ratchets up public pressure.
The diplomatic push follows a period of intense domestic turmoil in Iran. The talks come a month after authorities crushed one of the most significant challenges to the Islamic republic since the 1979 revolution that toppled the pro-Western shah, amid a bloody crackdown on dissent.
The administration also has regional consultations on the calendar. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to hold talks on Feb. 28 in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a longtime advocate of tough action against Tehran. The meeting could set the stage for coordinated messaging should the Iran talks stall before Trump’s stated deadline.
Trump did not outline the contours of a potential agreement or specify what additional steps the United States might take if Iran does not comply within the stated timeframe. But his comments — invoking a 10- to 15-day horizon and warning of consequences — mark one of his most explicit ultimatums on Iran to date.
With the clock ticking, the administration’s approach now hinges on whether the Geneva contacts can convert “progress” into a concrete proposal acceptable to both sides — and whether Tehran will engage under the threat of imminent action.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
