The newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump’s team is actively considering a range of strategies to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear program, with preemptive airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities being one of the options under serious discussion, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The potential for striking Iran’s nuclear sites has gained traction among some members of Trump’s transition team, particularly in light of the weakening of Tehran’s regional influence following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. The diminishing power of Iran, combined with new revelations about its growing nuclear activities, has sparked sensitive internal debates about how to curb Tehran’s ambitions. However, sources indicated that these discussions are still in the early stages.
U.S. officials have previously estimated that Iran could require several months to develop nuclear weapons.
Trump’s team is crafting a “Maximum Pressure 2.0” strategy, which builds on the tough economic sanctions he implemented during his first term. This updated approach, however, contemplates incorporating military actions, potentially as a central element of the strategy against Iran, alongside increased financial sanctions.
During internal talks, two primary options have emerged. One proposal suggests ramping up military pressure, which could involve deploying more U.S. troops, aircraft, and ships to the Middle East, as well as selling advanced weaponry to Israel for targeting Iranian nuclear sites. The second option is to use the threat of military action, coupled with sanctions, to force Iran into negotiating a diplomatic resolution.
It remains unclear which course of action Trump will ultimately choose. Although he has stated his preference to avoid large-scale military escalation in the Middle East, he also acknowledged in an interview with Time that a conflict with Iran is possible, partly due to Tehran’s alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate him.
