On September 19, U.S. President Donald Trump stated the necessity of reaching a significant agreement with Iran regarding nuclear negotiations, warning that failure to do so could result in dire consequences. This statement comes in light of stalled negotiations, where Trump hinted at potential large-scale military operations following the deployment of significant U.S. military assets in the Middle East, raising concerns among American media about an imminent attack on Iran. Addressing the inaugural board meeting of the Peace Committee in Washington, Trump reflected on the challenges of past negotiations but reiterated the imperative for a successful agreement, warning again that absence of such could have severe outcomes.

In his remarks, Trump acknowledged maintaining good relations and constructive dialogue between the U.S. and Iran, expressing cautious optimism about possible agreements within the next ten days. However, he also referred back to the previous year’s airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities, emphasizing a willingness to escalate military action if necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump made it clear that he sees the possession of nuclear arms by Iran as a direct threat to peace in the Middle East, stating emphatically that it is unacceptable for Iran to have nuclear weapons.

The deployment of U.S. military forces to the Middle East includes the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and substantial airpower, a show of force described as the largest since the 2003 Iraq War. Media outlets like Axios have characterized the current situation as closer to a large-scale Middle Eastern war than most Americans realize, reporting that the potential for imminent conflict is at a critical juncture, with speculations regarding Trump's patience with the ongoing diplomatic efforts reportedly running thin.