The United States is reportedly preparing the necessary steps for a possible military strike on Iran in the coming days.
Recently, US President Donald Trump publicly talked about the possibility of a strike. This comes after nearly a week of conflict between Iran and Israel.
The long-range blitz began Friday, June 13, when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign that prompted Iran to respond with missiles and drones.
Some officials told Bloomberg there could be an attack as soon as this weekend. Senior leaders from several federal agencies have also reportedly begun preparing for such an operation.
According to the Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump approved a plan for a strike on Iran on the evening of June 17. However, he has not yet given the order, leaving the decision open if Iran abandons its nuclear program.
In response, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Wednesday that the country would never bow to Trump’s demands and warned that any US intervention in support of its ally would bring “irreparable damage.”
A likely target is Iran’s uranium enrichment plant at Fordow. Military experts say it is heavily protected and can only be hit by the most powerful bombs.
Last week, Trump called for diplomatic talks to reach a nuclear disarmament deal with Iran.
The Wall Street Journal says Trump changed his mind after advisers warned him Iran is close to building nuclear weapons. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was one of the voices urging military action.
US intelligence reportedly disagrees with Trump’s assessment. NBC News reports that American officials say Iran has large uranium reserves but is not rushing to build a bomb.
Trump added to speculation about possible US military action when he abruptly left the G7 summit in Canada. During the meeting, leaders of the world’s major democracies called for calm in the Middle East but affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself.
Afterward, Trump claimed the US could easily kill Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He’s an easy target, but he’s safe for now – we’re not going to take him out, at least not yet,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
On Wednesday, Trump said Iran could get nuclear weapons “in a few weeks.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a similar claim, saying Iran has been secretly working on a bomb for months.
The conflict shows no sign of stopping. The Israeli military warned civilians on Thursday, June 19, to leave the Arak Khondab region in central Iran, home to key nuclear facilities, including a heavy-water reactor. Israeli forces attacked the area overnight.
In response, overnight on June 19, Iran fired rockets into Israel. One rocket hit a hospital in Beersheba. Israeli medical services say at least 30 people were injured across the country.