Trump Threatens Iran with Military Strike from Diego Garcia

In a new escalation that mixes diplomacy with military threats, U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the stakes against Iran, hinting at the use of the strategic base "Diego Garcia" in the Indian Ocean if Tehran does not reach an agreement with Washington.

* Direct Threat and Military Option on the Table

Despite the U.S. State Department confirming that the Iranian side has expressed a desire to reach an agreement, and that Trump prefers a peaceful path, the U.S. president wrote in a post on his platform "Truth Social" that if Iran refrains from signing an agreement, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, indicating a clear military option.

He also announced that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has lost control over the island, considering any leniency regarding it a strategic mistake.

* Anticipation for a Written Iranian Proposal

Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official revealed that Iran is expected to present a written proposal within the next two weeks outlining how to avoid confrontation with the United States, following the Geneva talks held last Tuesday.

He added that senior national security advisors met in the White House Situation Room to discuss the Iranian file, and they were informed of the necessity to complete the deployment of U.S. forces in the region by mid-March, according to what was reported by "Reuters".

He also noted that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on February 28.

For its part, the White House confirmed some progress in the talks, considering it wise for Iran to reach an agreement, emphasizing that diplomacy remains Trump's first option, despite the existence of justifications—according to the statement—that may push towards a strike.

* Military Movements in the Arabian Sea

On the ground, U.S. Central Command announced that "F/A-18 Super Hornet" aircraft landed on the aircraft carrier "USS Abraham Lincoln" in the Arabian Sea, a move reflecting increasing military readiness alongside the negotiation track.

* Tehran: The Path Has Started but the Agreement is Distant

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified that the two sides have reached "a set of guiding principles," confirming that "the path has started" towards a potential agreement, but he stressed at the same time that the two parties are still far from reaching a final formula, announcing a new round of talks later without specifying a date.

These developments come after weeks of tension between Washington and Tehran, following widespread protests in Iran last January that resulted in thousands of deaths, escalating U.S. threats.

The first round of indirect negotiations took place in Oman on February 6, and was described at that time as positive.

* Why Diego Garcia Specifically?

Diego Garcia, located in the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, is one of the most important military bases shared between the United States and Britain, and it has been used by Washington in its military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Historically, Britain separated the island in 1965 from the rest of the Chagos Archipelago and handed it over to the United States to establish a military base.

In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly demanded that London end its administration of the islands and hand them over to Mauritius.

In May 2025, Britain and Mauritius signed an agreement to transfer sovereignty over the islands, organizing the use of the base under a 99-year lease, granting London the right to extend usage for an additional 40 years.

However, the agreement has not yet come into effect due to the lack of parliamentary ratification in both countries.

Trump criticized the agreement sharply, considering Britain's abandonment of an island of vital importance to the United States as "weakness" and "a major folly," warning that China and Russia are closely monitoring developments.

* Between Diplomacy and the Brink of Confrontation

Ultimately, U.S.-Iranian relations once again stand at a crossroads:

Negotiations described as having made progress, versus military movements and clear deterrent messages.

Between the anticipated Iranian proposal and the unannounced deadline, the question remains:

Will diplomacy precede the sound of cannons this time?