As Donald Trump scaled up his threats of an attack against Iran, a recent midnight thunderstorm over the capital Tehran sent some residents scrambling out of their beds to windows and rooftops in the belief that the much-anticipated conflict had begun.

WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The United States did not seek zero uranium enrichment in nuclear talks this week and Iran did not offer to suspend enrichment, Iran's foreign minister said on Friday, adding that he expected to have a draft counterproposal ready within days.

The Iranian naval drill and the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea underscore the tensions between the nations.

But using the same strategy the White House directed at Venezuela is seen as likely to spark retaliation by Tehran and a surge in oil prices.

"The production company wishes to clarify that rumors regarding a criminal or nationalistic-related death are not true and are unfounded," said Donna and Shula Productions.

Although the United States and ally Israel have a decisive military advantage over Iranian forces, there are ways for Tehran to make any attack painful, officials said.