US Says ‘Wise’ For Iran To Strike Deal With Trump As Israel Puts Civil Defence Forces On Alert

Last Updated:February 19, 2026, 01:21 IST

The White House urges Iran to make a nuclear deal as tensions rise, while it fortifies nuclear sites and US military assets increase in the region.

The White House on Wednesday said Iran would be “wise" to reach a nuclear agreement with the United States, as tensions escalated amid warnings from US President Donald Trump and signs of military preparedness across the region.

“Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, underscoring Washington’s push for a diplomatic outcome even as rhetoric has sharpened in recent days.

The comments came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the country’s Home Front Command and rescue agencies to prepare for a possible war with Iran, Israeli media reported. According to Yedioth Ahronot, a state of maximum alert has been declared across several Israeli security agencies, while a key security cabinet meeting on Iran has been rescheduled for later this week, public broadcaster KAN said.

Even as diplomacy continues, Iran’s leadership appears to be bracing for the possibility of conflict. According to The Wall Street Journal, Tehran wants to reach a nuclear deal but is simultaneously preparing for war should talks fail. The report said Iran has been deploying forces, dispersing decision-making authority and fortifying nuclear facilities, reflecting fears that the survival of the regime could be at stake.

The newspaper also reported that the United States has moved significant military assets into the region, including aircraft carriers and warships, while Iran faces growing domestic pressure from economic strain and unrest.

Iranian officials have offered some concessions in negotiations, but Vice President JD Vance said the proposals have fallen short of Washington’s red lines, which include preventing Iran from acquiring the capability to build a nuclear weapon. While Iran’s foreign minister has publicly described talks as making progress, officials fear the gap between the two sides may remain too wide to bridge.

Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council, said Tehran does not seek war but is ready if one begins. “We reviewed our weaknesses and addressed them," he said in an interview aired on Al Jazeera. “If war is imposed on us, we will respond."

Meanwhile, Iran is flexing its military posture, deploying naval units of the Revolutionary Guard to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. State-linked media footage has shown missile launches during exercises near the waterway, not far from US naval assets operating in the region.

Iran has also been hardening its nuclear infrastructure, according to satellite imagery analysed by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security, part of broader efforts to prepare for potential strikes.

News world US Says ‘Wise’ For Iran To Strike Deal With Trump As Israel Puts Civil Defence Forces On Alert

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