US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran must reach a “meaningful” agreement over its nuclear programme within “10 to 15 days” or face unspecified consequences, escalating rhetoric amid a heightened US military presence in the Middle East.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of his “Board of Peace” in Washington and later to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said negotiations with Tehran were progressing but stressed that time was limited. “Otherwise bad things happen,” he said, adding that 10 to 15 days would be “pretty much maximum” for a deal to materialize, a Reuters report said.

Trump also referred to US airstrikes carried out in June, saying Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been “decimated,” while indicating that further action remained an option. “We may have to take it a step further or we may not,” he said, without providing specifics.

The remarks come amid what US officials describe as a precautionary military buildup in the region, including additional naval and air assets, a move that has fuelled concerns among regional observers of a broader confrontation. The Pentagon has said deployments are intended to deter attacks on U.S. forces and allies.

Iran responded by warning that it would treat American bases in the region as legitimate targets if they were used in any military action against the Islamic Republic. In a letter to UN, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said Trump’s rhetoric indicated a “real risk” of military escalation, though it stressed that Tehran did not seek war.