Khaberni - The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of conducting a limited military strike against Iran to force it to accept a new nuclear agreement, according to sources familiar with the discussions ongoing within his team.
The newspaper added that Trump hinted - during a peace council meeting in Washington - that the United States would decide its next steps in ten days if Tehran does not show a willingness to negotiate.
Trump warned that "bad things will happen" if the Islamic Republic refuses to reach an agreement. He said, "We might have to go a step further, or maybe not. Maybe we will strike a deal. You will know in the next ten days."
According to sources, Trump is considering multiple military options including a week-long campaign aimed at weakening the Iranian regime, or a smaller wave of strikes focused on governmental and military facilities.
U.S. officials warn that any military escalation could provoke a broad response from Iran that might draw Washington into a larger confrontation in the Middle East.
These developments come as senior U.S. officials held talks in Geneva with their Iranian counterparts during this week.
According to the newspaper, Washington is demanding an end to Iran’s nuclear activities, restrictions on its ballistic missile program, and a cessation of its support for armed proxies in the region, while Tehran refuses a comprehensive agreement and offers only limited concessions on the nuclear file.
The newspaper points to the escalating stalemate and increasing U.S. military buildup near Iran, raising the likelihood of Washington resorting to military options.
It is expected that Tehran will deliver its official response to the negotiations within two weeks, but Trump's new deadline might prompt it to accelerate its stance.
Iranian officials have threatened to respond with utmost force to any U.S. strike, where the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei - in statements made through social media - said that the Iranian forces are capable of sinking an American aircraft carrier and delivering a strike "that the U.S. military cannot recover from."
