The United States and Iran continue to employ a dual strategy of pressure and openness, actively preparing for a potential conflict under the banner of “diplomacy first.”
United States: Pentagon Says “All Options Are on the Table”
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on Monday that the US is keeping all options open regarding Iran while urging Tehran to negotiate an agreement. During a visit to Colorado, Hegseth reiterated to reporters that President Trump prefers a diplomatic solution but noted that the US military has prepared contingency plans in case Iran rejects a deal.
“Iran should make a deal. Iran has the opportunity to make a deal. That is the President’s desired outcome,” Hegseth said. “Our job is to provide options, and if Iran decides not to take a deal, we will provide the President with choices.” When asked if military strikes were still under consideration, Hegseth confirmed that “all options are on the table.” He added, “This is the President’s decision. We are here to help ensure a deal is reached. I think it would be wise for Iran to make a good deal.”
White House: Priority Remains Diplomacy
The White House stated on Tuesday that President Trump’s policy toward Iran prioritizes diplomacy but does not rule out military action if necessary. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: “President Trump’s preferred choice is always diplomacy, but as he has shown, he is willing to use the lethal force of the US military if necessary.”
Leavitt referenced June’s “highly successful” Operation Midnight Hammer, which she said destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities, while warning that the threat has not been fully eliminated. “That does not mean Iran will never again attempt to establish a nuclear program that could directly threaten the United States and its allies overseas,” she said, adding that preventing this scenario is precisely Trump’s focus.
Leavitt dismissed recent media reports about internal discussions, stating that anyone “hiding behind anonymous sources pretending to know what President Trump is thinking… has no idea what they are talking about.” She emphasized that Trump remains the “ultimate decision-maker.” Leavitt indicated that Trump would address “ongoing threats abroad” in his upcoming State of the Union address, citing Iran’s “Death to America” slogan as evidence of the persistent threat.
12 F-22 Fighter Jets Land in Israel
According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, at least 12 US F-22 fighter jets landed at an air force base in southern Israel on Tuesday amid escalating tensions with Iran. KAN reported: “This afternoon, 12 American F-22 fighter jets landed at an air force base in southern Israel as part of the US deployment in the Middle East.”
CIA Recruitment of “Anti-Iranian” Individuals
As US-Iran tensions continue to escalate, the CIA on Tuesday called on Iranians to provide the agency with any “information or skills that might be useful to our organization.”
“Hello. The CIA can hear you and wants to help you. Here is essential guidance on how to contact us securely and virtually,” the agency posted on X in Persian, accompanied by a two-minute video explaining how to contact the CIA. The video detailed methods for Iranians to establish contact, recommending the use of VPNs or the Tor network while avoiding business computers and office phones.
Iran: Large-Scale Military Exercise
Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces held large-scale exercises on Tuesday along the country’s southern coast. Semi-official Fars News Agency reported that multiple units of the IRGC Ground Forces participated in the 1404 joint exercise, stating the maneuvers aimed to enhance “combat readiness” in response to threats. The report indicated the exercises demonstrated modern combat techniques and the implementation of new tactics designed to address existing threats.
Iran: Ready to Resume Talks and Reach “Fair and Reasonable” Agreement
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Tuesday that Tehran will resume negotiations with the US in Geneva, “determined to reach a fair and just agreement in the shortest possible time.” In a series of posts on X, Araghchi said the new round of talks would “build on the consensus reached during the first two rounds in Muscat and Geneva.”
Araghchi stated that Iran’s “fundamental conviction” is clear, emphasizing that the country “will never” develop nuclear weapons under any circumstances, nor will the Iranian people ever abandon their right to “utilize peaceful nuclear technology for our people.” He said, “We have a historic opportunity to reach an unprecedented agreement that can address shared concerns and achieve mutual benefits.”
“An agreement is within reach, but only if diplomacy is prioritized,” Araghchi said. The senior diplomat added that Tehran has proven it will protect its sovereignty “at all costs” amid concerns that the US might attack Iran. “We come to the negotiating table with the same courage, committed to peacefully resolving any differences.”
Iran: Prepared to Reach Deal “As Soon As Possible”
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said on Tuesday that Tehran is prepared to reach a nuclear agreement with Washington “as soon as possible,” as both sides prepare for a new round of negotiations in Geneva.
Takht-Ravanchi, a member of Iran’s negotiating team, told NPR that Iran will achieve this goal “at any cost.” He stated that the Iranian delegation will enter the Geneva negotiation hall with “complete sincerity and good faith,” while hoping for similar goodwill from the American side. “If there is political will on all sides, I believe an agreement can be reached very quickly,” he said. A veteran diplomat and former Iranian ambassador to the UN, Takht-Ravanchi also participated in negotiations leading to the landmark 2015 nuclear deal.
Other Actors: Lebanon
Hezbollah May Intervene
A Lebanese official told Anadolu on Tuesday that “friendly” international parties have warned of potential “disaster” if Hezbollah intervenes in coordination with Iran. The official stated that “the Lebanese government has been warned that Hezbollah’s participation in supporting Iran would have serious consequences for the country,” without providing details. The official added that the government and Foreign Ministry are working to protect infrastructure from potential impacts.
The reported warnings follow statements by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem that the organization “will not remain neutral” if Iran is attacked by the United States or Israel.