World February 19, 2026

Trump Says U.S. Engaged in Positive Talks With Iran, Seeks a "Meaningful" Agreement

President stresses nuclear nonproliferation and signals near-term updates on negotiations

By Jordan Park
Trump Says U.S. Engaged in Positive Talks With Iran, Seeks a "Meaningful" Agreement

President Donald Trump told attendees at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace that the United States is engaged in constructive discussions with Iran and that a substantive agreement is necessary. He reiterated that any deal must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and said further information would surface within roughly 10 days. He also acknowledged that additional work remains to be done in talks with Tehran.

Key Points

  • President Trump said the U.S. is engaged in constructive talks with Iran and seeks a "meaningful deal".
  • A central condition stated by the president is that Iran "can’t have a nuclear weapon."
  • The administration expects further information on the Iran talks to emerge in about 10 days; sectors that could be affected include energy, defense, and financial markets due to potential geopolitical outcomes.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that talks between the United States and Iran are progressing in a positive direction and that Washington needs to secure a meaningful agreement with the Middle Eastern nation.

Delivering remarks at the first meeting of his Board of Peace, the president emphasized the diplomatic focus. "We have to make a meaningful deal with Iran," he said, while also conceding that "we do have some work to do with Iran."

Trump underscored a firm condition he expects to see reflected in any prospective arrangement: Iran "can’t have a nuclear weapon." The president framed nuclear nonproliferation as a nonnegotiable element of the talks.

On timing, the president signaled that more clarity on the situation should be forthcoming soon. "We will find out about Iran in about 10 days," he said, indicating a near-term window for developments or updates related to the discussions.

The remarks came during the inaugural gathering of the Board of Peace, a forum the president convened to discuss diplomatic objectives and related policy considerations. While the president described the current dialogue with Iran as constructive, he also acknowledged outstanding issues that remain to be resolved as the parties pursue a deal.

The statements reflect the administration's stated priorities for the negotiations: achieving a substantive arrangement and ensuring that nuclear capabilities are not part of any outcome. Beyond this, the president's comments establish a short timeframe in which additional information is expected to become available, though he also noted that further work is required before concluding an agreement.


Summary

President Trump reported positive talks with Iran, stressed that any deal must preclude a nuclear weapon, acknowledged that further work is needed, and said more details would emerge in about 10 days.

Risks

  • Negotiations may not immediately yield a finalized agreement - the president said "we do have some work to do with Iran," indicating unresolved issues that could prolong talks. This uncertainty could influence defense and financial sectors.
  • The persistence of Iran's nuclear capabilities is a stated concern - the president insisted Iran "can’t have a nuclear weapon," highlighting the security risk that underpins the talks and could affect defense-related markets.
  • The near-term timeline is uncertain - while the president said the U.S. "will find out about Iran in about 10 days," the outcome and timing of that information remain unclear, creating short-term uncertainty for markets sensitive to geopolitical developments.

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