WSJ: Trump Privately Approved Attack Plans for Iran

Late Tuesday, President Trump privately informed top advisors that he was leaning toward approving military action against Iran but was postponing a final decision to see if Tehran would step back from its nuclear ambitions, according to three sources familiar with the talks.

Following his confidential briefing with military officials in the White House Situation Room, Trump made it known publicly that a strike remained a possible course of action.

“I have some plans in mind, but I prefer making the final call at the very last moment,” he said to reporters on Wednesday.

According to insiders, Trump believes that signaling a willingness to support Israel’s ongoing strikes—now in their sixth day—might pressure Iran into compliance. He confirmed a U.S. strike was under consideration but said he had not made a firm choice.

A senior official from the White House stated that various military strategies are still being weighed and that Trump is monitoring Israel’s approach closely.

Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion” last week, targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military assets. So far, they’ve struck over 1,100 locations, including eight helicopters and 40 missile-related facilities in western Iran just on Tuesday.

Pentagon officials confirmed that while strike plans are being developed, the president has not issued a final order. For now, the U.S. military’s involvement is limited to supporting Israel’s defenses against Iranian projectiles.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met at the White House after attending a Senate hearing earlier in the day.

While the planning for potential action continues, people close to the matter say Trump might still opt for a diplomatic solution.

“I might go ahead with it, or I might not,” Trump reiterated Wednesday, demanding full Iranian surrender and suggesting that the coming week could be decisive.

Tehran responded firmly, declaring it would not enter talks under threat and would strike back if attacked.

“Iran will not engage in negotiations under pressure and refuses to make peace with a washed-up warmonger clinging to relevance,” Iran’s UN mission said, indirectly referencing Trump.

One possible U.S. target is Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow enrichment site, which lies beneath a mountain and is considered unreachable without advanced bunker-busting weaponry. Israel has not yet attempted to hit that facility.

Meanwhile, U.S. forces have been repositioning closer to the region, deploying aerial refueling planes, warships equipped for missile defense, an aircraft carrier strike group, and F-22 fighter jets, which arrived in the UK on Wednesday.

Hegseth noted that the U.S. is boosting its regional defense posture, especially since attacking Fordow could provoke Iranian retaliation against American assets in the area.

During a Senate hearing, Hegseth declined to confirm whether military action was under serious consideration, stating that such a decision rests solely with the president.

He added that the Pentagon was ensuring all necessary resources were in place to protect U.S. forces from potential threats, including drone attacks.

Russia, meanwhile, urged Washington not to proceed with any strike. In a call with Omani officials, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pushed for a swift end to hostilities and condemned Israel’s actions, according to a statement from Moscow’s foreign ministry on Wednesday.