U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a limited military strike on Iran, aimed at pressuring Tehran to agree to a nuclear deal, according to local media reports.
If approved, the strike could occur within days and target select military or government facilities. Reports suggest that should Iran refuse to comply, the U.S. could escalate to a broader campaign against Iranian government sites, potentially seeking to remove the country’s leadership.
A White House source told Axios that Trump is exploring options ranging from a short, weeklong campaign to force “regime change” to smaller-scale strikes focused on Iran’s government and military infrastructure.
On Thursday, Trump warned reporters that Iran has 10 to 15 days to reach an agreement on its nuclear program, cautioning that failure to do so would lead to “really bad things” for the country. He declined to specify the objectives of a potential military action.
“Regime change” in Iran, the president said last week, would be “the best thing that could happen.”
An adviser to Trump estimated there is a “90 percent chance” of strikes within weeks if negotiations fail, noting that any operation could be a large-scale, weeks-long campaign potentially conducted with Israeli cooperation.
Meanwhile, Trump has ordered a significant military buildup in the Middle East amid rising tensions.
