Middle East Crisis Iran-US Tensions

Expert: Trump Could Be Forced into a War He Doesn't Really Want

Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran in the hope of forcing the country into a nuclear deal, but no deal has yet been signed.

The Financial Times writes that the president is considering "the biggest foreign policy risk" of his term.

Middle East expert Aaron David Miller at the CEIP think tank tells the newspaper that Trump has put himself in a difficult predicament. The president is locked in, as he has both promised support for Iranian protesters and strengthened the US military presence in the Middle East.

- If he fails to get significant concessions from the Iranians to avoid a war he doesn't want, he will be forced into one, says Miller.

On Tuesday, Iran stated that the country will do everything it can to reach an agreement with the US.

Iran: Will do everything to reach an agreement

Iran hopes for an agreement with the US as soon as possible. This is what the country's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said, according to Reuters.

- We will do everything necessary to make it happen, he said.

According to reports, the two countries will meet in Geneva on Thursday to discuss Iran's nuclear energy. The US has a massive military presence in the Middle East, and an attack on Iran is reportedly on Trump's list of options.

Takht-Ravanchi emphasizes that Iran will respond harshly to a US attack or aggression.

Satellite Images Show US Buildup Around Iran – Largest Since Iraq War

The US military presence near Iran has increased rapidly, with more than 150 aircraft being moved to bases in Europe and the Middle East, according to flight tracking data and satellite images reviewed by the Washington Post.

The current US military presence in the region is one of the largest in more than two decades – since before the 2003 Iraq War. Experts the newspaper spoke to say the resources now being gathered suggest plans for a multi-day campaign without a ground invasion.

The build-up comes after President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran if no deal to limit the country’s nuclear program is reached.

The conflict between the US and Iran — the issue

• In February 2026, the US and Iran held indirect talks in Geneva with Omani mediators about Iran's nuclear program, where the parties agreed on guiding principles but still have some unresolved issues.
• USA har kraftigt ökat sin militära närvaro i Mellanöstern, bland annat med två hangarfartyg och stridsflygplan, samtidigt som Iran genomfört militära övningar och förstärkt sina anläggningar.
• Donald Trump has threatened military attacks if no agreement is reached, and the administration has discussed both limited and extensive attacks on Iranian targets.
• Iran has signaled some willingness to compromise but refuses to completely abandon uranium enrichment. According to government sources, the US may possibly accept a symbolic level if the possibility of nuclear weapons is closed.
• Several actors, including Russia and Trump's own advisors, have warned of serious risks of war. Israel and other states in the region are preparing for possible military action.