Iran-US Tensions Live News Updates: Donald Trump says he ‘is considering limited military strike’ on Iran

US-Iran Tensions Highlights: The standoff between the US and Iran has escalated significantly in the last 24 hours. While President Donald Trump’s 10-day ultimatum for a nuclear deal looms, he confirmed Friday that he is now “considering” limited military strikes to pressure Iran into a settlement. Despite the drumbeats of war, a narrow window for diplomacy remains. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Saturday that Tehran is drafting a formal counterproposal, expected within the next 48 to 72 hours, aimed at breaking the deadlock. However, with the US demanding “zero enrichment” and Israel moving toward active joint-strike planning, diplomats across Europe and the Gulf warn that the region is sliding toward a conflict not seen since 2003. ## What’s the current situation? Trump’s strike warning: Asked if he would authorise kinetic action during negotiations, Trump told reporters, “I guess I can say I am considering that.” He added that Tehran “better negotiate a fair deal.” Tehran’s counter-offer: Iran is reportedly preparing a text based on “mutual respect”, though it remains unclear if it will address the US “red line” regarding domestic uranium enrichment. Israel on high alert: The Israeli government, believing talks have reached an impasse, has accelerated joint military preparations with the US for an operation that could begin “very soon”. Strait of Hormuz tensions: Following a brief shutdown for IRGC live-fire drills, the waterway remains a flashpoint. Iran has warned that any attack would make all US regional assets “legitimate targets”. Massive buildup: The USS Gerald R. Ford is currently transiting the Mediterranean to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, completing a dual-carrier presence that analysts call the most significant mobilisation in decades. Our Global Desk are monitoring official statements from the White House, the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and maritime security agencies in the Persian Gulf. Stay tuned for real-time updates as this story develops. The United States on Friday pledged to keep imposing visa restrictions on individuals involved in violently repressing and censoring Iranians, Assistant Secretary posted on X. ​“The United States will continue to pursue visa restrictions for individuals who violently repress and censor Iranians seeking to exercise their freedom of expression,” Mora Namdar said. > The United States will continue to pursue visa restrictions for individuals who violently repress and censor Iranians seeking to exercise their freedom of expression. https://t.co/QfOhPzeDZn— Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar (@AsstSecStateCA) February 20, 2026 The United States will continue to pursue visa restrictions for individuals who violently repress and censor Iranians seeking to exercise their freedom of expression. https://t.co/QfOhPzeDZn Donald Trump is weighing a narrow Iran nuclear deal that could permit ‘token’ uranium enrichment while simultaneously being presented with Pentagon options that include a plan to kill Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son, Axios reported on Friday citing senior US officials and advisers. "The media may continue to speculate on the President's thinking all they want, but only President Trump knows what he may or may not do," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Axios. Iran is holding onto its roughly 300 kg of 60 %‑enriched uranium and says it won’t ship it abroad, but it’s ready to dilute the material to 20 % or lower under IAEA supervision as part of a new proposal to the United States. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stresses that Washington hasn’t demanded Iran stop enrichment altogether only that the purity and number of centrifuges be limited. While earlier talks floated sending the stockpile to Russia or creating an overseas enrichment consortium, Tehran now says those ideas aren’t on the table. The offer comes as US President Donald Trump weighs a potential naval strike in the region, making the dilution plan a key element of Iran’s counter‑proposal to defuse tensions. Students marched peacefully at Sharif University, many carrying Iranian flags. They chanted “death to the dictator” a reference to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with other anti-government slogans. Video shows supporters of a pro-government rally nearby, with scuffles breaking out between the two groups. The BBC also verified images of a sit-in at Shahid Beheshti University in the capital. Separate footage from Amir Kabir University of Technology showed students chanting against the government. In Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city in the north-east, students were reported to have chanted: “Freedom, freedom” and “Students, shout, shout for your rights.” Further demonstrations were reported later in the day, with calls for more rallies on Sunday. It was not immediately clear if any arrests had been made. The United States is moving closer to a potential military confrontation with Iran, even as diplomatic efforts over Tehran’s nuclear programme falter. According to The New York Times and news agency Reuters, President Donald Trump is weighing options ranging from limited strikes to broader action, amid a sweeping US military deployment in the Middle East In January, Trump said a US “armada” was heading toward Iran, comparing it to the swift American operation in Venezuela that he described as able to fulfill its mission “with speed and violence”. But experts caution that Iran presents a far more complex challenge than Venezuela, with greater military depth and the capacity to trigger a regional war. Read the full story here. Students at several universities across Iran have staged anti-government protests, marking the first demonstrations on this scale since last month’s deadly crackdown, according to the BBC. Hundreds of students marching on the campus of the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran at the start of the new semester on Saturday. Some clashes were later seen between protesters and pro-government supporters. The protests come amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Iran has formally warned the United States of severe consequences in the event of any military aggression, in a strongly worded letter addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the UN Security Council. The letter, delivered by Iran’s representative to the United Nations, asserts that all US bases, facilities, and assets in the region would be considered legitimate targets under Iran’s defensive response, while holding Washington fully accountable for any unpredictable outcomes of military action. (Iran News) The Iranian government has again blamed “terrorists” for the killings of thousands during last month’s nationwide protests after US President Donald Trump and human rights experts weighed in. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that the government has released a list of 3,117 people, whom he described as “victims of recent terrorist operation”, including about 200 security personnel. “If anyone disputes accuracy of our data, please share any evidence,” the diplomat, who has previously stated that 690 people on the list were “terrorists” armed and funded by the US and Israel, wrote on X. Araghchi’s comments come hours after Trump told reporters that 32,000 people were killed during the protests, adding that “the people of Iran have lived in hell” under the theocratic establishment. (With inputs from Al Jazeera) Students at Sharif University of Technology chanted “Death to Khamenei” at Basij members who confronted them during a protest on Saturday, Iran International reported, citing a video it received. US President Donald Trump could permit Iran to continue limited nuclear enrichment if Tehran guarantees there is “no possible path” to developing a nuclear bomb, Axios reported. The publication also claimed that if Iran refuses to comply with Washington’s demands, Trump has a contingency plan that includes targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtaba, widely viewed as a potential successor, and other senior clerical figures. The report comes as Trump continues to expand the US military presence in the Middle East. It indicates that despite the hard red lines drawn by both Washington and Tehran, there may still be a narrow opening for an agreement that curbs Iran’s nuclear programme without escalating into war. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reiterated concerns about heightened rhetoric and increased military activities in the Middle East. During the Geneva talks, the US did not seek zero uranium enrichment, and Iran did not offer to suspend enrichment, Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, told MS Now. “What we are now talking about is how to make sure that Iran’s nuclear programme, including enrichment, is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever,” he said. He added that technical and political “confidence-building measures” would be enacted to ensure the program would remain peaceful in exchange for action on sanctions, without giving further details. President Donald Trump has pushed the United States to the brink of war with Iran even as aides urge him to focus more on voters' economic worries, highlighting the political risks of military escalation ahead of this year's midterm elections. Trump has ordered a huge buildup of forces in the Middle East and preparations for a potential multi-week air attack on Iran. But he has not laid out in detail to the American public why he might be leading the US into its most aggressive action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution. With inputs from Reuters In a phone call on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty that Tehran is working to prepare a draft negotiating text for the ongoing indirect nuclear talks with Washington, emphasizing that the document will be built on “mutual respect and mutual interests.” Araqchi added that the second round of Oman‑mediated talks in Geneva on February 17 was held in a serious atmosphere and proved more constructive than the first round. Abdelatty welcomed the diplomatic momentum and called for continued consultations to reach an acceptable framework for all parties.- Tasnim News. Donald Trump said a day earlier that 10‑15 days should be enough for Iran to reach a deal, after recent indirect talks in Geneva showed little progress. Those negotiations follow years of deadlock since Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear accord in 2018. Iran has since refused to discuss broader US and Israeli demands, including limits on its missile program and ties to armed groups. Foreign Minister Araghchi noted that US officials haven’t asked for zero uranium enrichment in the latest talks, a point that differs from public US statements. “What we’re now talking about is how to make sure Iran’s nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and will remain peaceful forever,” he said, adding that Iran would take confidence‑building steps in exchange for sanctions relief. A White House official, speaking anonymously, told AP that Trump has been clear Iran “cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them” and must not enrich uranium, while Tehran maintains its program is peaceful and US allies fear it could be weaponized. US President Donald Trump warns that he’s “considering” limited military strikes on Iran, even as Tehran says it’s close to sending Washington a proposed nuclear deal, according to the Associated Press (AP). Asked on Friday whether the United States could take limited military action while talks continue, Trump said, “I guess I can say I am considering that.” Hours later, he added that Iran “better negotiate a fair deal”. Read the full story here. Less than a year after the United States and Israeli military forces attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, the odds of another strike — or even a bigger attack — on Iran are growing. The BBC has reported that after weeks of US forces building up in the Middle East, Washington “now looks set to assemble more air power in the region than at any time since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.” The New York Times also said that given the rapid build-up, US President Donald Trump “has the option to take military action against Iran as soon as this weekend,” citing the administration and Pentagon officials. Read the full copy here. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad stated that cooperation between Tehran and Washington in the oil and gas sector is possible in light of the ongoing nuclear negotiations, noting that it remains unclear whether such cooperation would become operational. Asked about the odds of cooperation between Iran and the United States in the oil and gas sectors in view of the continuation of nuclear negotiations between the two countries, Paknejad said, “Everything is possible.” The minister added that it is not yet clear whether oil and gas cooperation between the two sides would become operational at this stage. US President Donald Trump warns that, should Iran refuse a nuclear deal, the United States may need to use Diego Garcia and the Fairford airfield to “eradicate a potential attack,” a threat Iran’s UN envoy calls a clear violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and a destabilizing escalation. Trump said a day earlier that 10 to 15 days should be enough time for Iran to reach a deal after recent indirect talks, including meetings in Geneva, showed little visible progress. The negotiations follow years of deadlock after Trump withdrew the United States in 2018 from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Since then, Iran has refused to discuss wider US and Israeli demands, including limits on its missile programme and its ties with armed groups. Araghchi said American officials have not asked for zero uranium enrichment in the latest talks, which differs from public statements by US officials. US President Donald Trump has said he is considering a limited military strike on Iran in order to pressure its leaders to agree a deal to curb the nuclear programme. The president made the remark in response to a question from a journalist hours after officials had suggested the possibility of a strike. On Thursday, Trump said the world would find out "over the next, probably, 10 days" whether a deal would be reached or the US would take military action. The US has been increasing its military presence in the region in recent weeks. The US and its European allies suspect that Iran is moving towards the development of a nuclear weapon, something Iran has always denied. Iran and the United States are sliding rapidly towards military conflict as hopes fade for a diplomatic solution to their standoff over Tehran's nuclear programme, officials on both sides and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe say. Iran's Gulf neighbours and its enemy Israel now consider a conflict to be more likely than a settlement, these sources say, with Washington building up one of its biggest military deployments in the region since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. ael's government believes Tehran and Washington are at an impasse and is making preparations for possible joint military action with the United States, though no decision has been made yet on whether to carry out such an operation, said a source familiar with the planning.-Reuters Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington Friday, after American President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of London’s decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the joint UK-US air base on Diego Garcia. Read the full story here. US President Donald Trump said Friday he was considering a limited military strike on Iran but gave no other details. Asked if he was considering a limited strike to pressure Iran into a deal on its nuclear programme, he told reporters at the White House, “I guess I can say I am considering” it. The Diego Garcia base has recently been used for operations in the Middle East against Yemen’s Houthis and for humanitarian aid missions to Gaza, according to Reuters. The base is one of the most strategically significant US military installations outside American territory. RAF Fairford, mentioned by Trump, serves as a key European hub for US strategic bombers. Read the full story here The Pentagon is sending the largest force of American warships and aircraft to the Middle East in decades, including two aircraft carrier strike groups, as President Donald Trump warns of possible military action against Iran if talks over its nuclear program fall apart. “It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran, and we have to make a meaningful deal,” Trump said Thursday. “Otherwise bad things happen.” Trump likely will have a host of military options, which could include surgical attacks on Iran’s air defences or strikes focused on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, experts say. But they warn that Iran could retaliate in ways it hadn’t following attacks last year by the U.S. or Israel, potentially risking American lives and sparking a regional war. “It will be very hard for the Trump administration to do a one-and-done kind of attack in Iran this time around,” said Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group. “Because the Iranians would respond in a way that would make all-out conflict inevitable.” Britain's foreign minister Yvette Cooper will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Friday, after President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of London for ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which is home to a US-UK air base, news agency Reuters reported. Last year, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius, while keeping control of one - Diego Garcia - through a 99-year ⁠lease ​that preserved US operations at the base. Washington last year gave its blessing to the agreement, but Trump has since changed his mind several times. In January, Trump described it as an act of "great stupidity", but earlier this month ​said ​he understood the deal was the best ⁠Starmer could make, before then renewing his criticism this week. Cooper is meeting Rubio to discuss defence and security issues in ‌Washington as Trump also toughens his rhetoric on Iran, saying Tehran must make a deal over its nuclear programme in the next 10 to 15 days, or "really bad things" will happen. The Diego Garcia base has recently been used for operations in the Middle East against Yemen's Houthis and in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Gold prices rose Friday, supported by lingering tensions between the United States and Iran and lower European bond yields, while investors awaited US inflation data to assess the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy. Spot gold was up 0.7% at $5,032.49 ⁠an ounce ​by 0941 GMT, but was on course for a weekly decline of 0.2%. US gold futures for April delivery were up 1.1% at $5,052.70. "What we're seeing in the interest rate markets is that prices are higher in the ​longer end ​in European trading. That means yields are ⁠down, and that is reducing opportunity costs for holding gold," said Quantitative Commodity Research analyst Peter Fertig. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has said Tehran will respond “decisively” to any “military aggression” by the United States in a letter urging the UN Security Council to condemn recent threats from President Donald Trump. Amir Saeid Iravani called for members of the council and UN chief Antonio Guterres to act, noting in particular Trump’s recent specific threat to use an airfield located in the Indian Ocean in the Chagos Islands, in a potential attack on Iran. “Given the volatile situation in the region and the persistent movement and build-up of military equipment and assets by the United States, such a belligerent statement by the President of the United States must not be treated as mere rhetoric,” Iravani wrote. The Iranian envoy emphasised that his country “neither seeks tension nor war and will not initiate any war”. > Iran’s UN envoy warns that recent US statements about possible use of Diego Garcia and Fairford bases signal a real threat of military action, calling them violations of the UN Charter. Tehran says it seeks diplomacy, not war, but any attack would make US regional assets… pic.twitter.com/vICub6XaSd— Ali Hashem علي هاشم (@Alihashem) February 19, 2026 Iran’s UN envoy warns that recent US statements about possible use of Diego Garcia and Fairford bases signal a real threat of military action, calling them violations of the UN Charter. Tehran says it seeks diplomacy, not war, but any attack would make US regional assets… pic.twitter.com/vICub6XaSd (With inputs from Al Jazeera) The US military, in recent weeks, has reportedly been closing in with its buildup near Iran as President Donald Trump had last month promised the protesting Iranians that “help was coming” and referred to the military buildup in the region as “armada”. Trump, on January 22, spoke about a “great aramada” heading to Iran, where he referred to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group. The BBC has now confirmed, using satellite imagery, that the location of USS Abraham Lincoln is near Iran. The US military is allegedly ready for a potential strike on Iran as soon as this weekend, The Guardian reported, citing unnamed sources on Wednesday. The report added that President Trump is yet to take a call on whether to go ahead with the strike on Tehran. Read the full story read European shares edged higher Friday and were on track for weekly gains, buoyed by a broadly improving corporate earnings outlook and easing ⁠AI-disruption worries, ​while simmering geopolitical tensions kept a lid on enthusiasm. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.2% to 626.64 points by 0814 GMT, trading just ​shy ​of an all-time high, with ⁠most regional benchmarks also in the black. Luxury brand Moncler jumped 13% after ‌reporting a 7% rise in revenue in the fourth quarter, helped by solid growth in Asia and the Americas. The broader luxury sector added 1.2%. Meanwhile, global markets were monitoring developments in the oil-rich Middle East as President Donald ‌Trump ⁠warned Iran it must make a deal over its nuclear program or "really ​bad things" will happen. (With inputs from Reuters) The United States appears to be preparing for possible military action against Iran. In recent weeks, Washington has increased its military presence in the Middle East. If talks fail and US President Donald Trump decides to order strikes, the consequences could spread across the region. In an analysis, the BBC says that while the likely targets of any US strike are known, “the outcome is not”. Read the full story here. According to a BBC report, images publicly available from the European Sentinel-2 satellites show that at least 12 US ships have gathered in the Middle East region. • Abraham Lincoln • Nimitz-class carrier • Three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers • Two destroyers • Three specialist ships for combat • Two other destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean Among the US aircraft being deployed in the Middle East are: • F-15 fighter jets • EA-18 fighter jets • US cargo planes • Communications aircraft • Refuelling aircraft • MQ-9 Reaper drones US President Donald Trump says he’ll decide on a US‑Iran deal within the next 10 days, noting talks are ongoing and a red line is clear: no nuclear weapon for Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran’s live‑fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz have temporarily shut the key oil route, and Poland’s PM urged citizens to leave Iran immediately. The standoff leaves markets on edge as both sides weigh diplomacy versus escalation.