Washington, United States. US President Donald Trump has set a 10-day deadline for a nuclear deal with Iran, warning the United States will take military action if Tehran does not meet Washington’s demands.
US ultimatum and military build-up
US special envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News on Saturday that Trump is “curious” why Iran has not yet conceded despite a major US military build-up in the Middle East. The deployment includes the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group.
Witkoff said he did not want to call the president “frustrated” but questioned why Tehran had not offered concessions given the scale of American naval and air power positioned in the region.
New round of indirect talks planned
The ultimatum came as Oman announced a new round of indirect negotiations between US and Iranian officials, scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that a diplomatic solution remains possible “based on a win-win game” and confirmed that Tehran is preparing a draft agreement.
Unrest in Iran
The standoff unfolded amid internal unrest in Iran, with anti-government protests reported at major universities in Tehran and Mashhad over the weekend. The protests were described as the largest since a January crackdown.
Verified footage showed demonstrators at Sharif University chanting monarchist slogans and scuffling with government supporters.
Conflicting death toll estimates
Human rights groups estimated that more than 7,000 people were killed in a previous wave of unrest, including 226 children. Iranian authorities have put the death toll at about 3,100, saying most were security personnel or bystanders.
What do you think the upcoming indirect talks in Geneva could change in US-Iran negotiations?
