Tensions bubble between U.S. and Iran as nuclear talks stall

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran appear to be escalating as the countries have so far failed to reach an agreement surrounding nuclear weapons that the Trump administration is pushing for.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that Iran “should not pursue nuclear capabilities” and that he will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects” in order.

Earlier this week, Trump said the U.S. sent a “big armada” to the region, referring to the group anchored by the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier.

“Hopefully Iran will quickly “Come to the Table” and negotiate a fair and equitable deal — NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS — one that is good for all parties,” Trump said in a social media post Wednesday. “Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!”

U.S. officials briefly exchanged messages with Iranian officials via Omani diplomats earlier this month but no communications have occurred since Jan. 17, a source with knowledge of the matter told MS NOW. No face-to-face meetings between U.S. and Iranian officials are currently planned.

“The Iranians haven’t really had the opportunity to make concessions because there have been no substantive discussions,” said the source. “This was very brief. Things didn’t really get going. It was a false start.”

Trump has called for an end to the Iranian regime, blaming Ayatollah Khamenei for “the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before.” Trump previously claimed an attack on Iran would be in support and defense of the many protesters in the country — but now cites its nuclear weapons as the primary motive for military action.

Iran continues to see widespread unrest fueled by the country’s worsening economic crisis and anger toward the country’s authoritarian leadership. After the rial, Iran’s national currency, fell to a record low in December, shopkeepers in Tehran took to the streets in protest. Sanctions on Iran’s oil sector have further strained an already struggling economy.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Ankara, Turkey, on Friday to meet with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, who is attempting to mediate between the two countries in hopes of avoiding a major regional conflict.

Araghchi has previously warned the U.S. against military action and said Iran is ready for war if it comes to that.

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David Rohde contributed to this report.