KATHMANDU: U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a 15-day ultimatum to Iran to reach a concrete agreement on its nuclear program, warning of “severe consequences” if no deal is struck.

Speaking at a Board of Peace meeting on Thursday, Trump said, “Ten to fifteen days is enough. If Tehran fails to agree, it will face very bad results.”

Diplomatic efforts have included talks in Geneva, mediated by Switzerland, and prior discussions in Muscat, Oman.

While Iran claims the Geneva negotiations were positive, the U.S. maintains that no substantive agreement was reached. Iran has requested additional time to draft a new proposal.

Washington demands a full halt to uranium enrichment, suspension of long-range ballistic missile programs, and cessation of support for regional militant groups. Iran insists its nuclear program is strictly peaceful and that its missile program and foreign support policies are internal matters.

Tensions have escalated as U.S. military presence in the region intensifies. The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers, accompanied by destroyers, cruisers, and submarines, are deployed in the Middle East. Additional fighter jets, tanker aircraft, and missile defense systems including Patriot and THAAD are on high alert. B-2 bombers are also prepared for rapid deployment.

The Pentagon has temporarily relocated some personnel to Europe and the U.S., anticipating potential Iranian retaliation. Last July, the U.S. targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities with GBU-57 bombs, reportedly rendering them inoperable. However, recent satellite imagery shows reinforced structures at key sites, indicating continued nuclear activity.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has previously warned of retaliatory action against U.S. forces and bases in the Middle East. Amid rising tensions, Russia has called for restraint.