Iran-Trump latest: US president tells Tehran it ‘can’t have a nuclear weapon’ and delivers new deadline
The US has sent a dozen warships to the region in a show of force after talks in Geneva ended without a breakthrough
Donald Trump warned that Iran must make a deal or “bad things will happen” on Thursday, with the threat of military strikes still hanging heavy over delicate nuclear negotiations.
The US president used his first meeting of the so-called Board of Peace to issue Tehran with a new deadline as he raced warships, tankers and submarines to the Middle East to strong-arm the regime into a deal.
"Good talks are being had. It's proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to make a meaningful deal, otherwise bad things happen," Trump told the meeting in Washington.
“You're going to be finding out over the next, probably 10 days,” he said, stressing that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon”.
Washington and Tehran have been working to resolve a longstanding dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme, but concluded intensive talks in Geneva this week without a breakthrough.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned this week that Iran was prepared to retaliate if Washington attacks, saying the United States “may be struck so hard that it cannot get back up” if it renews attacks against the regime.
Trump still weighing strikes, sources say
Top national security officials have told Trump that the US military is ready to strike Iran - but the president is still deciding how to proceed, sources familiar with talks told CBS News.
A report published on Wednesday cited anonymous officials who described talks as ongoing and fluid. The administration is said to be weighing the relative risks and consequences of escalation.
Axios reported that the US has moved more than 50 F-35, F-22 and F-16 fighter jets to the Middle East this week.
Iran came away from talks in Geneva convinced that a deal was close, but the White House indicated key differences remain.
Trump: We will find out about Iran in about 10 days
Donald Trump said this afternoon that the United States had to make a meaningful deal with Iran, or “bad things” would happen.
The US president insisted good talks were still ongoing after negotiations in Geneva concluded without a breakthrough.
But speaking at the inaugural meeting of his so-called Board of Peace on Thursday, he seized the opportunity to threaten Iran with military actions should talks go awry.
“You're going to be finding out over the next, probably 10 days,” he said, setting what appeared to be a new deadline for diplomacy.
Trump met with world leaders at the recently renamed Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace on Thursday to announce initial contributions to the rebuilding of Gaza. The Board, controversially, includes Israeli but not Palestinian representatives.
Trump’s forces build up ahead of potential Iran strike
The US has deployed a growing number of military assets to the Middle East in a show of strength to Iran.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier was spotted off the coast of Oman this week and will soon be joined by the world’s largest warship, the $13 billion USS Gerald R Ford.
Further afield, modern and long-distance aircraft open up Washington’s options for strikes.
Flight trackers show the movement of Boeing KC-135 tankers to Europe and the Middle East, which suggest preparedness for longer haul flights.
Here’s how Donald Trump’s is building up military assets in a show of strength to Iran:
F35s to warships: The US military forces gathering ahead of potential Iran strike
From this week: Iran holds military drill in Strait of Hormuz
Russia prepared to take uranium from Iran to secure US nuclear deal
Russia is prepared to accept enriched uranium from Iran if such an agreement were to be reached, Russian news agency Interfax reported on Thursday, citing Alexei Likhachev, CEO of Russian nuclear state corporation Rosatom.
Russia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that a proposal to remove uranium from Iran as part of a deal to ease US concerns was still on the table, but that it was for Tehran to decide whether or not to remove it.
In pictures: F/A-18 Super Hornets land on the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea
Iran expected to make the next move with diplomacy under strain
Iran is expected to submit a written proposal on how to avoid its standoff with the United States.
A senior US official told Reuters a proposal was expected on Wednesday, following talks in Geneva earlier this week.
They added that top national security advisors had been briefed that the US would otherwise have all its forces deployed to the region by mid-March.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on the weekend of February 28, the official said.
US is getting closer to war with Iran, Trump sources warn
“The boss is getting fed up,” a Trump advisor told Axios as nuclear talks fail to make a breakthrough.
“Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90 per cent chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks.”
Here’s why Trump insiders think strikes are getting closer despite the restarting of talks:
US is getting closer to war with Iran, Trump sources warn
Son of detained British couple in Iran hopes government will act to save them
The son of the British couple sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran says he hopes the UK government will act and use every available avenue to secure their release.
Joe Bennett, the son of Lindsay Foreman, said in a statement on Thursday: “My parents have now been sentenced to ten years following a trial that lasted just three hours and in which they were not allowed to present any defence.
“They have consistently denied the allegations. We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage.
“They have already spent more than thirteen months in detention. We are deeply concerned about their welfare and about the lack of transparency in the judicial process.”
“We were previously told that once sentencing occurred, further action would follow. We now hope that the UK Government will act decisively and use every available avenue to secure their release.”
British couple sentenced to ten years in Iranian prison
A British couple detained in Iran since last year have been sentenced to ten years in prison on espionage charges.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman were arrested last January while travelling the world and accused of gathering information.
They were sentenced following an October court appearance in which they were not permitted to present a defence.
Family members said no evidence was disclosed at the trial. The Foremans deny the allegations against them.
Ms Foreman told the BBC from Evin prison that they wanted to “exercise their right to be heard” and use Iran’s legal system to show what it was doing was “unfair and unjust”.
“We have done what we can to be respectful of their system, to be patient with the legal process and believing that our innocence will prevail but it doesn't seem to be the case,” she said.
According to the family, the Foremans have been subjected to long periods of solitary confinement, have been delayed access to funds for basic necessities, and have received limited or delayed access to legal representation since they arrived.
The family said they will seek further engagement from the foreign secretary following the verdict. Yvette Cooper said they would pursue the case “pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family”.
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