• Trump asking why Tehran has not ‘capitulated’ within the face of army build-up, US envoy Witkoff says
• Iranian commander claims ‘enemy’ actions being monitored around the clock
• Talks anticipated on Thursday if nuclear proposal furnished ‘in subsequent 48 hours’
• Washington ‘supplied’ alternatives for funding in Iran’s oil trade
DUBAI: America has evacuated a whole bunch of troops from key bases in Qatar and Bahrain in what’s described as a precautionary transfer as tensions with Iran proceed to escalate, based on a report by The New York Occasions.
The withdrawal, which concerned personnel stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and amenities linked to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, comes amid rising concern in Washington over the potential for army confrontation with Tehran and the danger of Iran’s retaliatory strikes throughout the area.
Al Udeid, the biggest US army set up within the Center East, hosts round 10,000 troops and performs a central function in American air operations within the area. Officers mentioned the redeployment was supposed to cut back publicity of forces within the occasion of a sudden escalation.
The transfer has been broadly interpreted as a part of a contingency planning somewhat than a sign of imminent battle.
US forces stay deployed throughout a community of bases in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE.
In the meantime, US negotiators are prepared to carry one other spherical of talks with Iran on Friday in Geneva in the event that they obtain an in depth Iranian proposal for a nuclear deal within the subsequent 48 hours. Axios reported on Sunday, citing a senior US official.
Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned on Sunday officers of Iran and the US are anticipated to attend Oman-mediated talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, noting that there’s nonetheless “an excellent probability” of a diplomatic answer to Tehran’s nuclear ambition.
Later, Oman’s International Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi in a put up on X confirmed “US-Iran negotiations are actually set for Geneva this Thursday, with a optimistic push to go the additional mile in direction of finalizing the deal.”
Trump asks why Iran has not capitulated
US envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned on Saturday that President Donald Trump is questioning why Iran has not “capitulated” within the face of Washington’s army build-up aimed toward pressuring them right into a nuclear deal. In a Fox Information interview, Witkoff mentioned the president was “curious” about Iran’s place after he had warned them of extreme penalties within the occasion they did not strike a deal.
“I do not need to use the phrase ‘pissed off’, as a result of he understands he has loads of options, however he is curious as to why they have not… I do not need to use the phrase ‘capitulated’, however why they have not capitulated,” he mentioned.
“Why, below this strain, with the quantity of seapower and naval energy over there, why have not they arrive to us and mentioned, ‘We profess we do not need a weapon, so this is what we’re ready to do’? And but it is type of arduous to get them to that place.”
Witkoff’s feedback come after Araghchi mentioned a draft proposal for an settlement with Washington could be prepared in a matter of days. Trump mentioned on Thursday that Iran had at most 15 days to make a deal on issues beginning with its nuclear program.
Iran monitoring ‘enemy’ actions
An Iranian commander mentioned on Sunday that his nation’s forces are monitoring “enemy” actions across the clock amid rising tensions with the USA, based on an Anadolu report.
“All enemy actions are repeatedly monitored,” Floor Forces Commander Ali Jahanshahi mentioned throughout a go to to a army unit within the metropolis of Piranshahr in West Azerbaijan province close to the Iraqi border.
“Because of their superior capabilities, our troopers won’t permit any hostile motion towards this land,” he added in his feedback quoted by native media.
Iran and the US have differing views on sanctions aid in talks to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, a senior Iranian official mentioned on Sunday.
“The final spherical of talks confirmed that US concepts relating to the scope and mechanism of sanctions aid differ from Iran’s calls for,” the official mentioned.
“Throughout the financial bundle below negotiation, the US has additionally been supplied alternatives for severe funding and tangible financial pursuits in Iran’s oil trade,” the official mentioned. Nevertheless, he mentioned Tehran won’t hand over management of its oil and mineral assets.
Revealed in Daybreak, February twenty third, 2026
