White House warns Iran of "options" beyond diplomacy as talks open

On the eve of critical nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, the White House framed the upcoming diplomacy as a test while issuing a stark warning to Tehran. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated Thursday that the talks would center on achieving the complete elimination of Iran's nuclear capabilities, but stressed that military and other options remain on the table if diplomacy proves unsuccessful.

The US negotiating position and warning

During a press briefing, Leavitt outlined President Donald Trump's clear objective for the talks in Muscat, Oman. "The president has obviously been quite clear in his demands of the Iranian regime. Zero nuclear capability is something he's been very explicit about, and he wants to see if a deal can be struck," she said. However, she coupled this with a direct caution to Iranian leaders, reminding them that "the president has many options at his disposal aside from diplomacy as the commander in chief of the most powerful military in the history of the world."

Context of the talks and regional tension

The negotiations are scheduled to proceed despite a last-minute dispute over the venue, which shifted from initial plans for Istanbul, Türkiye, to Muscat. The talks occur against a backdrop of heightened regional military posture, including a significant U.S. naval buildup in the Persian Gulf. This dual approach of pursuing dialogue while maintaining coercive pressure defines the Trump administration's strategy, aiming to force Iranian concessions on its nuclear program, which Washington believes is aimed at developing weapons—a claim Tehran denies.

Broader implications for diplomacy

The White House statement effectively sets a high-stakes, zero-sum framework for the negotiations. By publicly stating the "zero capability" goal and explicitly mentioning alternative "options," the administration signals both its maximalist demands and its willingness to walk away from the table. This approach leaves little room for the incremental or compromise-based agreements that have characterized previous nuclear diplomacy with Iran, placing significant pressure on the opening round of talks.