Iran and the US have held a second round of high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome – and agreed to meet again next week – even as hopes for de-escalation are tempered by mounting military threats and mixed messages.
US President Donald Trump reminds Tehran nearly every day of its options: a deal or war.
He has previously said Israel would lead a military response if the talks failed.
On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Trump had "waved off" an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites as early as next month.
"I wouldn't say waved off. I'm not in a rush to do it," Trump told reporters in response to the article on Thursday, adding that he preferred to give diplomacy a chance.
"I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death… That's my first option. If there's a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran."
After both sides described the first round of talks in Oman last weekend as constructive, Trump had said he would be "making a decision on Iran very quickly".
