The United States military is reportedly ready to strike Iran as early as this weekend, though President Donald Trump has yet to decide whether to authorize such an operation, sources told CNN.
According to officials familiar with the situation, the White House has been informed that military forces could be prepared for action by the weekend, following a significant buildup of air and naval assets in the Middle East in recent days.
One source cautioned, however, that Trump has privately debated both for and against military action, consulting advisers and allies to determine the best course.
Top national security officials met Wednesday in the White House Situation Room to discuss Iran, according to a source familiar with the meeting.
Trump also received briefings from special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner on indirect talks with Iran that occurred a day earlier. It remains uncertain if Trump will make a final decision by the weekend.
“He is spending a lot of time thinking about this,” one source said.
Indirect talks between Iranian and US negotiators took place in Geneva on Tuesday, lasting three-and-a-half hours.
While Iran’s lead negotiator said both sides had agreed upon a “set of guiding principles,” an American official noted, “there are still a lot of details to discuss.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Iran is expected to clarify its negotiating position “in the next couple of weeks,” but declined to indicate whether Trump would delay military action during that time.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to Israel on February 28 to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and provide an update on the talks, a State Department official told CNN.
“I’m not going to set deadlines on behalf of the president of the United States,” Leavitt said.
She emphasized that “diplomacy is always his first option,” but confirmed that military action remains under consideration.
“There’s many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran,” she added, noting that Trump is relying primarily on counsel from his national security team.
Amid these deliberations, fears of a potential US-Iran conflict have grown, even as diplomatic efforts continue.
The USS Gerald Ford, the US’s most advanced aircraft carrier, could reach the region as soon as this weekend, following other military movements. US Air Force assets stationed in the United Kingdom, including refueling tankers and fighter jets, are also being repositioned closer to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Iran has strengthened several nuclear sites, using concrete and soil to shield key facilities from potential attack, according to satellite imagery and analysis from the Institute for Science and International Security.
Several upcoming events may influence any decision to strike. The Winter Olympics, often a symbol of global unity, conclude Sunday; some European officials have said they believe an attack would not occur before then.
Ramadan began Wednesday, and some Middle Eastern allies have warned that a strike during the holy month would be viewed as disrespectful.
Trump is also set to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, which aides have suggested could launch his midterm-year domestic messaging. It is unclear whether these events are being factored into Trump’s decision.
In recent statements, Trump has offered little guidance to Congress or the American public regarding a large-scale military operation in Iran.
He has indicated a desire for regime change and insisted that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon, but has not defined his precise objectives for an attack.
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