Donald Trump is reportedly getting ready for a possible military strike in Iran, and some sources have said that it could start within the coming days.
The 79-year-old president has previously leveraged the threat of military action against the Middle Eastern country. In January, he warned that “time [was] running out” for Iran to “come to the table” and make a “fair and equitable deal” about the country’s nuclear program.
New reports suggest that Trump is prepared to act on his threat, which he said would be fulfilled “with speed and violence, if necessary” on his social media platform Truth Social.
Keep reading to find out more…
Insiders have told CNN, CBS News and Axios that the president has discussed taking action against Iran.
The outlets stated that nothing was determined yet. However, the Department of Defense could reportedly set things in motion as soon as this weekend, per CNN and CBS.
CBS reported that Trump “has not yet made a final decision,” citing multiple national security officials who maintained anonymity.
While the military could be ready this weekend, the outlet reported that “the timeline for any action is likely to extend beyond” then.
An insider told CNN that Trump “has privately argued both for and against military action,” saying that he has also “polled advisers and allies on what the best course of action is.”
One ally that could reportedly join forces with the U.S. is Israel, according to reporting by Axios. While insiders told the outlet that Israeli leaders are “preparing for a scenario of war within days,” U.S. forces are not moving as quickly.
The latest reports come after U.S. officials met with Iranian negotiators in Geneva, Switzerland for talks on Tuesday (February 17). CNN reported that the talks were “indirect,” saying that officials “passed notes for three-and-a-half hours.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the talks during a press briefing the following day, saying that Iran and the U.S. are “still very far apart on some issues,” per CBS.
“I believe the Iranians are expected to come back to us with some more detail in the next couple of weeks, and so the president will continue to watch how this plays out,” she continued.
Leavitt opined, “Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration,” also saying that there were “many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran.”
However, she said that the president would prefer to pursue diplomacy. The press secretary did not address rumors of a partnership with Israel, per CBS.
Both CBS and CNN reported that a briefing on the matter also took place in the Situation Room on Wednesday (February 18).
Each outlet reported that the U.S. has sent military force into the region, though this does not mean that a strike is imminent. CBS reported that “all military forces deployed to the region are expected to be in place by mid-March.”
Axios reported that any action in the area would entail “a massive, weeks-long campaign,” stating that it would more closely resemble “full-fledged war” over what took place in Venezuela earlier this year.
The outlet reported that Trump‘s hardline stance sets a scene where he is unlikely to “back down without major concessions from Iran on its nuclear program.”
An insider seemingly agreed, telling Axios, “The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks.”
The Department of Defense did not comment on the matter when questioned by CBS. Just Jared reached out, but has not heard back at the time of publication.
Just Jared also contacted the White House for comment.
Earlier this year, the president shared a map that appeared to suggest U.S. plans for expansion into three foreign territories, including Venezuela.
