Asked about possible US military action, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were "many reasons and arguments" that could be made for a strike against Iran.
"The president has always been very clear though with respect to Iran or any country around the world, diplomacy is always his first option, and Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump," Leavitt said.
A second round of talks between the US and Iran took place in Geneva on Tuesday local time.
After the meeting, Tehran dampened expectations of a swift breakthrough, though Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the path towards an agreement had begun.
A US official said progress was made, but many details remain unresolved.
The Iranian side is expected to return within two weeks with detailed proposals aimed at narrowing the differences between the two sides, the senior administration official said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel to discuss Iran on February 28, the official said.
The latest discussions focused primarily on Iran's nuclear program. Washington has sought for years to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran, which denies seeking such arms, has signalled it is willing to limit its civilian nuclear program in return for the US lifting harsh economic sanctions.
However, Tehran has ruled out negotiations on other issues including reducing its missile program.
The talks come amid weeks of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran after Iranian security forces brutally cracked down on a wave of protests in January, with thousands reported killed.
In response, Trump threatened the Iranian leadership with military intervention and sent military assets, including two aircraft carriers, to the region.
"The president has ordered the continued buildup in the region, including the arrival of the second carrier group. Full forces should be in place by mid-March," the senior US official said.
With Reuters
