US President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a limited strike on Iran first, according to a report. The report by Wall Street Journal quotes people familiar with internal negotiations to state that Trump is considering whether to begin the Iran operation with a targeted military strike, and then escalate if Iran refuses to halt its uranium enrichment program. As per the report, the plan under review involves hitting select military or government-linked sites. This could pressure Tehran without immediately triggering a full-scale war.
The report quoted sources as saying that such an operation, if approved, could be launched within days. The idea would be to start with a contained strike, followed by broader attacks on regime infrastructure, if Tehran continues to defy the US.
Officials say that the limited-strike approach is being seen by Washington as a tool to force a US-favoured agreement. One person briefed on the matter said the strategy could involve incremental escalation - beginning with small scale strikes and then expanding operations until Iran either dismantles its nuclear program or faces severe consequences.
Also Read:Largest US Military Buildup Near Iran Since Iraq War: What's Deployed Where
Regional officials have, however, warned that a limited assault would likely derail talks for a prolonged period. It remains unclear, how close Trump is to authorising action.
On Thursday, Trump said he would determine his course of action within 10 days. He later said that the timeline could extend to roughly two weeks. "We're going to make a deal or get a deal one way or the other," he said.
A White House spokesperson declined to comment on potential plans, saying that "only President Trump knows what he may or may not do".
The debate echoes discussions during Trump's first term over his plans for a possible "bloody nose" strike against North Korea in 2018. At the time, the administration considered a limited pre-emptive strike to warn Pyongyang about how seriously the US was taking its nuclear programme. Ultimately, however, Trump opted for diplomacy, even though multiple summits failed to achieve disarmament.
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