US - Iran news : Trump dials up pressure amid diplomatic talks

dw.com · Feb 19, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Published February 19, 2026last updated February 19, 2026The White House said there are many "reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran" but that diplomacy is always the first option. It comes as the US rapidly builds up a military presence near Iran.https://p.dw.com/p/590o5Iran's foreign minister expressed optimisim about talks after the latest round of indirect talks with US officials earlier this weekImage: Burak Kara/Getty ImagesSkip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know 'Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and his administration,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday US media outlets widely reporting that US president has not made any decision when it comes to military action against Iran US first began building up military presence in region several weeks ago in response to repression by Iranian authorities We're rounding up some of the major developments on US-Iran news here: Skip next section Iran says no country can deprive it of right to 'peaceful' enrichmentFebruary 19, 2026Iran says no country can deprive it of right to 'peaceful' enrichmentThe head of Iran's atomic energy agency on Thursday said that no country could deprive Tehran of its right to enrich nuclear fuel, after US President Donald Trump's latest hint of military action. "The basis of the nuclear industry is enrichtment. Whatever you want to do in the nuclear process, you need nuclear fuel," Mohammad Eslami said in a video published in Iranian media. "Iran's nuclear program is proceeding according to the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and no country can depirve Iran of the right to peacefully benefit from this technology," Eslami said. Iran has long insisted that its enrichment of uranium is for peaceful power-generating and other civilian purposes, a position met with severe sketpicism by Israel, the US and Europe. Trump had previously boasted that the country's nuclear weapons program had been "completely and totally obliterated" in strikes last summer by Israel and the US. However, US and Israeli intelligence agencies and militaries and other sources less prone to exaggeration suggested far less long-lasting damage had in fact been done. What's on the table in the US-Iran negotiations in Geneva?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/590uMSkip next section US military prepared for Iran strike this weekend but no final decision from Trump yet, US media report February 19, 2026US military prepared for Iran strike this weekend but no final decision from Trump yet, US media report The US military has informed President Donald Trump that it is ready to strike Iran as soon as this weekend, US outlets CNN and CBS report. However, the US media reports say that Trump has not made a final decision on whether to attack Iran. US sends largest aircraft carrier to Middle EastTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, along with nearly 80 aircraft, was around 700 kilometers (435 miles) off Iranian shores as of Sunday. A second aircraft carrier group, the USS Gerald Ford, is also moving towards the region. CBS reported that the Pentagon has also ordered some US troops out of the Middle East in case Iran launches a counterattack. The US military has multiple bases in the region such as Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. US outlet Axios reported that a US military operation against Iran could last for weeks. Israel would also take part in the operation, Axios said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit Israel and meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the coming weeks to discuss the negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program. As of now, no concrete deal on Iran's nuclear ambitions has been achieved. https://p.dw.com/p/5912BSkip next section Welcome to our coverageFebruary 19, 2026Welcome to our coverageDW is bringing you the latest coverage on the current standoff between Iran and the United States over Tehran's nuclear program. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran cease its atomic program, which Washington sees as aimed at obtaining nuclear weapons. Iran, which is adamant that its nuclear activities are and have always been civilian in nature, has expressed determination to continue them. Talks in Geneva on Tuesday between US and Iranian negotiators appear to have borne little fruit, with the White House saying: "We're still very far apart on some issues." Amid the tensions, the US has significantly built up a military presence near Iran, with multiple media reports on Wednesday suggesting that it could be ready to carry out strikes on Iran as soon as this weekend. Follow this blog throughout the day for more. https://p.dw.com/p/590pyShow more posts