• President Trump is considering limited military strikes against Iran within a 10-to-15 day deadline to pressure Tehran in nuclear negotiations.
  • The U.S. has deployed over 100 aircraft, two aircraft carriers, and up to 40,000 troops to the Middle East, though it's unclear if this is a negotiating tactic or genuine intent to topple the regime.
  • Iran has warned that all U.S. military bases and assets in the region would become "legitimate targets" if attacked, with experts flagging risks of significant retaliatory escalation.

President Donald Trump is actively considering limited military strikes against Iran as leverage in nuclear negotiations, according to people familiar with the matter. Preliminary U.S. strikes could begin within days, targeting some military or government sites while stopping short of a full-scale assault, as reported by sources briefed on the discussions. Trump has set a 10-to-15 day deadline for Iran to accept his demands, warning that "bad things" will happen if no agreement is reached.

The U.S. military has conducted a significant buildup in the Middle East, deploying more than 100 aircraft and a dozen ships, including two aircraft carriers—the USS Gerald Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln—with troop levels expected to reach 40,000 personnel once fully positioned. However, it remains unclear whether this military demonstration is primarily a negotiating tactic or reflects genuine intent to topple the Iranian regime, which experts say is at its weakest since 1979. Trump's stated rationale for the limited-strike option is to strengthen U.S. negotiating leverage without immediately triggering broader conflict, though recent discussions have reportedly focused on larger-scale strikes, according to senior White House aides.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described recent indirect nuclear talks in Geneva as "constructive," but refused to accept all of Trump's "red lines" and has declined to expand negotiations beyond nuclear issues to include ballistic missiles and regional proxy activities. The Trump administration is demanding that Iran remove enriched uranium from the country, cap its long-range missile stockpile, cease support for militant groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis, and halt uranium enrichment activities. In response, Iran's UN Ambassador warned that if attacked, all U.S. military bases and assets in the region would become "legitimate targets" for Iran's defensive response—a threat that carries weight given that Iran previously targeted the Al Udeid air base in Qatar in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last year.

International implications are already unfolding. Israel, according to Hebrew media, views the talks as likely doomed and is preparing for a potential joint operation with the U.S. against Iran, with 59 percent of Israelis supporting joint military action. Norway has relocated approximately 60 soldiers from the Middle East due to security concerns. Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mick Mulroy noted that the military assets in place suggest "comprehensive initial target list" capability for a sustained campaign potentially lasting weeks. However, experts emphasize substantial risks: Iran has threatened significant retaliatory response and plans to specifically target U.S. naval assets, with officials expecting any future Iranian attack to be "substantially more devastating" if the regime believes it faces collapse.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, has advocated for any military action to be substantial enough to remove the regime entirely, calling it "the best chance" for such an outcome. If Iran continues rejecting Trump's demands, the U.S. may escalate to wider assaults on regime targets with the possible aim of toppling the Islamic Republic, according to reports. One source suggested Trump could ramp up attacks until either the regime falls or dismantles its nuclear program. Efforts to reach the White House for comment were not immediately successful, but the situation remains fluid as the deadline approaches.