President Donald Trump has given his approval for military strike plans targeting Iran but is withholding action to determine whether Tehran will abandon its nuclear weapons program, according to individuals with knowledge of the internal discussions, The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
The deliberations center on Iran's heavily fortified Fordow enrichment facility, which military analysts consider vulnerable only to the most devastating ordinances due to its location beneath a mountain, sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. When questioned about his decision regarding potential attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, Trump responded, "I may do it, I may not do it." The president emphasized his demand for Iran's complete capitulation.
The president reiterated his demand for Iran's complete capitulation, declaring, "The next week is going to be very big, maybe less than a week," according to The Washington Post. This ultimatum comes as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected any possibility of surrender and cautioned that American military action would result in devastating repercussions.
Trump rebuffed reporters questions on Wednesday on what the timing of a potential strike could be. Trump had already examined proposed military operations against Iran, an official with knowledge of the circumstances confirmed to The Washington Post, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential internal deliberations.
Pentagon forces have deployed a third US Navy destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean Sea while directing a second carrier strike group toward the Arabian Sea, creating a formidable military posture. Although Defense Department officials characterized this buildup as strictly defensive measures, the positioning strategically enables American participation in potential Israeli operations against Iranian targets while potentially pressuring Tehran toward negotiations.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran has intensified, with casualty figures climbing above 639 fatalities in Iran, according to human rights organizations monitoring the situation. Israeli losses have reached 24 deaths from Iranian missile and drone attacks.
