White House: Iran Talks Show 'Little Progress' as Trump Weighs Next Steps

Press Secretary says negotiations remain far from a breakthrough as administration considers further military action.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The White House said Wednesday that negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program have yielded modest gains, but the two sides remain 'very far apart on some issues.' Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that 'a little bit of progress' was made, but emphasized that Iran is expected to provide more details in the coming weeks as President Trump weighs his next steps, including the possibility of additional military strikes.

Why it matters

The White House comments come as the administration faces mounting pressure to find a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear standoff, with concerns that further military action could lead to a wider conflict in the region. The June airstrikes, dubbed 'Midnight Hammer,' were touted as a decisive blow, but Iran's nuclear program appears to have continued advancing.

The details

In the briefing, Leavitt defended the June airstrikes as a success, saying they 'totally obliterated Iran's nuclear facilities.' However, she declined to provide a timeline or deadline for Iran to reach a new deal, stating that 'diplomacy is always [Trump's] first option' but that Iran 'would be very wise to make a deal.' The press secretary also left open the possibility of additional military strikes if Tehran fails to agree to new limits on its nuclear program.

  • The latest round of talks with Iran took place this week.
  • Iran is expected to provide more details to the U.S. in the next couple of weeks.

The players

Karoline Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary, who provided the update on the status of negotiations with Iran.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who has repeatedly left open the possibility of additional military strikes against Iran if it fails to agree to new limits on its nuclear program.

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What they’re saying

“The Iranians are expected to come back to us with some more detail in the next couple of weeks, so the president will continue to watch how this plays out.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (theyeshivaworld.com)

“The president, as commander in chief, had a very successful operation. Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Iran's nuclear facilities.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (theyeshivaworld.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.