WASHINGTON/TEHERAN/CAIRO - US President Donald Trump on Friday suggested that the White House has privately communicated a deadline to Iran to reach a deal, while declining to disclose the timing publicly.
Asked by reporters at the White House whether Iran had been given a deadline, Trump replied: "Only they know for sure."
When asked about whether the Pentagon had a timeline to reduce the US military presence in the Middle East region, Trump said: "We'll see how it all works out. They have to float someplace, so they might as well float near Iran."
Trump's latest remarks come as Washington increases military pressure on the Middle East nation, where nationwide unrest has erupted since late December 2025. Trump said Wednesday that a "massive armada," headed by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, is heading toward Iran, and warned that "time is running out" for Teheran to make a deal with the United States.
On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces reported that the US guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black made a routine stop in Eilat on the Red Sea, underscoring ongoing US-Israeli military cooperation.
'Dignity-based' talks
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkiye is prepared to facilitate dialogue between Teheran and Washington. In a phone call with Pezeshkian, Erdogan underscored Ankara's commitment to constructive diplomacy and offered to act as a mediator in efforts to de-escalate the crisis.
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's commitment to "dignity-based diplomacy" grounded in international law, mutual respect, and dialogue and rejected threats or the use of force. In remarks to Erdogan, he stressed that successful diplomacy depends on abandoning hostile actions and fostering goodwill.
In a separate call with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran seeks engagement, not conflict.
"Iran prioritizes safeguarding security and establishing lasting peace and stability in the region," he said, while criticizing Western powers for what Teheran sees as a lack of genuine diplomatic commitment.
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The UAE president reaffirmed his country's commitment to supporting initiatives that promote regional security and stability, according to the UAE's official WAM news agency. Both sides stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing challenges and maintaining peace in the region.
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on a diplomatic visit to Istanbul, reiterated that Teheran is prepared for talks with the United States but only if they are fair and not conducted under threat.
Speaking at a press conference alongside his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, Araghchi said that while Teheran remains open to all diplomatic avenues, arrangements for the format, location, and agenda of talks have yet to be agreed. He stressed that Iran will not negotiate its defensive capabilities.
Araghchi also said Iran is prepared for all scenarios, including military conflict, and claimed that its readiness now surpasses its preparedness during last year's Israeli and US airstrikes. He reaffirmed that Iran has never sought nuclear weapons but will maintain and expand its defense capabilities.
Sanctions against Iranian officials
Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced new sanctions against a number of Iranian officials, including Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a statement that Momeni oversees Iran's law enforcement forces, which have been involved in actions against demonstrators.
Sanctions also target Iranian investor Babak Morteza Zanjani and other officials, as well as two related digital asset exchanges.
German envoy to Iran summoned
Separately, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned Germany's ambassador to Teheran over "imprudent, meddlesome and provocative" remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about Iran and its armed forces.
German Ambassador to Iran Axel Dittmann was called in by Alireza Yousefi, director-general for Western Europe at the ministry, on Thursday, one day after Merz claimed that the Iranian government's collapse could be imminent and accused it of resorting to "force and terror".
He also pledged that Germany would make efforts to persuade the European Union to designate Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as a terrorist organization.
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At the meeting, the Iranian diplomat voiced his country's strong protest, saying the German chancellor was in no moral position to preach about the Iranian people's human rights.
