Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran will prepare the draft of a possible nuclear deal with the United States within two to three days, while U.S. President Donald Trump said he is contemplating a limited military strike on Iran.
In an interview with MSNBC while elaborating on indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States and ways to bridge differences on the nuclear issue, Araghchi said, "My next step is to present the draft of a potential deal to my U.S. counterparts," noting that the draft will be ready in the next two to three days.
The draft, once finalized by his superiors, will be delivered to U.S. president's special envoy Steve Witkoff, he said, adding that the two sides "may need another round of discussion before starting work toward, hopefully, a good conclusion."
During the second round of indirect talks on Tuesday, Araghchi said, Iran has not offered to suspend uranium enrichment on its soil, and the U.S. side has not put forward such a demand.
"I have to emphasize that there is no military solution to Iran's nuclear program," he said, adding, "The only solution is diplomacy and that is why the United States is back to the negotiating table and seeking a deal."
He added that Iran is ready both for war and peace, noting, "We are prepared for diplomacy and negotiation as much as we are ready for war."
Later in the day, Trump said that he is considering a limited military strike to pressure Iran to make a deal. "I guess I can say I am considering that," Trump told reporters at the White House.
The latest developments come as Iran and the United States hope to resolve a range of differences through negotiations, including issues related to uranium enrichment, long-range missiles, and sanctions.
With the two countries having completed two rounds of talks, Trump said Thursday that Iran has 10 to 15 days to reach a deal on its nuclear program, or "really bad things" will happen.
Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Effie Defrin said Friday that the military is on high alert and monitoring developments on all fronts.
He added that there have been no changes to the military's guidelines for the Israeli public and urged the public to pay close attention to the latest official announcements.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have been escalating for months. Both sides have stepped up their military preparations for a potential conflict. Last week, Trump announced the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, to the Middle East to reinforce the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying guided-missile destroyers, already in the region.
Iran to prepare nuclear deal draft in days as Trump 'considering' limited military strike
Iran to prepare nuclear deal draft in days as Trump 'considering' limited military strike
Chinese speed skater Ning Zhongyan has made Asian history at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games after a long and solitary journey of rebirth following earlier setbacks.
Ning clocked an Olympic record of one minute 41.98 seconds to win the men's 1,500m speed skating event at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games on Thursday. This triumph follows two previous bronze medals he won in the men's 1,000m and team pursuit.
The men's 1,500 meters is often called the "King's Race" of long-track speed skating, demanding a rare blend of explosive speed and sustained endurance. The event has long been dominated by European and North American skaters. Since the first Winter Olympics in 1924, no Asian athlete had ever won gold in the event until now.
The journey to the throne was not plain sailing for Ning. The joyful tears shed on the Olympic ice at Milano Speed Skating Stadium carried the weight of four hard years.
At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Ning competed in three events - the 1,000m, 1,500m and mass start - but failed to reach the podium in any of them. In his most practiced discipline, the 1500-meter race, he ranked seventh.
Regrets lingered for a long time. But as a professional athlete, Ning had to adjust his mindset and accept the setback.
"After thinking over it, I was able to face it and realize that there's no need to burden myself with such pressure anymore. After all, it's already in the past. I can't change that reality, so I just chose to accept it," said Ning in an interview with China Media Group in Milan.
In 2023, Ning started to train with Dutch coach Johan De Wit. The move reshaped his career and his mindset.
"When it comes to training abroad, the first thing you face is loneliness. You need to confront this sense of isolation on your own, for only then can you discover a way of life that truly belongs to you. The changes have been indeed very significant, as some training philosophies were entirely new to me," said Ning.
The transformation soon became evident. During the 2023–2024 season, he not only clinched titles in both the men's 1,000m and 1,500m at the ISU World Cup, but also became the first Chinese male World Sprint Champion in speed skating history.
"[At the World Cup 1500m event,] my opponent was the Olympic champion [Kjeld] Nuis, and I defeated him at the 'Ice Ribbon' (China's National Speed Skating Oval), where he won the Olympic championship in 2022. This victory made me accept my past defeat, and also gave me firmer confidence in myself," said Ning.
Having fulfilled his long-held dream of raising the Chinese national flag on the Olympic podium, the newly crowned "King of Speed Skating" said he is grateful for the setbacks four years ago, which made him stronger, and that he never regretted his choices or the hardships he endured along the way.
Reborn from setbacks, Chinese speed skater makes Asian history at Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
