Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Feb 20: US President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a targeted military strike on Iran to pressure Tehran into a nuclear deal, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal. The potential action is described as “limited” in scope, aimed at striking select military or government sites without triggering a full-scale war.
Sources cited by the Journal indicated that the strike could be escalated if Iran refuses to comply with demands to halt uranium enrichment, with Trump potentially authorizing progressively larger operations until Iran either dismantles its nuclear program or faces further consequences.
Trump signalled that a decision is imminent, stating, “We’re going to make a deal or get a deal one way or the other,” and giving a timeline of “10 to 15 days, pretty much, maximum” for Americans to learn the outcome. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly declined to comment on specific actions, emphasizing that “only President Trump knows what he may or may not do.”
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that the administration appears prepared for a larger military build-up. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, along with accompanying warships, is nearing the Middle East, with US forces expected to be fully deployed by mid-March.
Former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel B. Shapiro noted that a combined US-Israeli strike would give the United States a substantial advantage over Iran, but cautioned that conflict could be protracted and costly, warning that Iran retains the capability to impose retaliatory damage.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded with threats, asserting that Iranian forces could “sink a US aircraft carrier” and inflict significant damage on American military assets, describing warships as vulnerable to powerful countermeasures.
Diplomatic efforts continue alongside military posturing. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that both sides had “made a little bit of progress” in ongoing negotiations but remain “very far apart on some issues,” with further Iranian responses expected in the coming weeks.
Tensions trace back to the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal during Trump’s first term, followed by sanctions and intermittent clashes. Iran maintains that it seeks nuclear enrichment solely for civilian purposes and denies any intention to develop nuclear weapons. The situation has heightened fears of broader conflict in the Middle East.