The New York Times reported early Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump has informed his advisors that he is considering a targeted American strike against Iran in the coming days should ongoing diplomatic efforts fail. Furthermore, the option of a broader offensive remains on the table in the coming months if Tehran does not comply with demands for the total abandonment of its nuclear program.
اضافة اعلان
According to the newspaper, top negotiators from the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to meet in Geneva this Thursday in what has been described as "last-minute negotiations" to avert military conflict. This comes as Washington mobilizes two aircraft carrier strike groups, along with several fighter jets, bombers, and refueling aircraft, within striking range of Iran.
A Decisive Message
The report cited sources familiar with internal administration deliberations, stating that Trump is leaning toward an initial strike aimed at sending a decisive message to the Iranian leadership regarding the necessity of relinquishing nuclear weapon manufacturing capabilities. Potential targets include:
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters.
Nuclear facilities.
The ballistic missile program.
The sources added that Trump told his advisors that if Tehran fails to comply, he would maintain the option of a larger military operation later this year, with the objective of assisting in the ousting of Iran's Supreme Leader. However, the NYT noted that skepticism exists within the administration regarding whether such a goal can be achieved through airstrikes alone.
Diplomatic "Last-Minute" Efforts
In contrast to the military escalation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Sunday that the latest rounds of negotiations with the U.S. had yielded "encouraging signs." In a post on X, he added: "We continue to closely monitor American movements and have made all necessary preparations for any potential scenario."
Simultaneously, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, whose country has mediated talks between the two sides, confirmed on X that a round of talks will be held in Geneva on Thursday. He noted that the meetings are scheduled with a "positive push to make an additional effort to finalize an agreement."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also suggested that this new round in Geneva—the third between Iran and the U.S. recently—comes as Washington continues to threaten military action if an agreement is not reached.
