President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly now considering the feasibility of preventive bombardment as a means of preventing Iran from constructing a nuclear weapon.
This action would represent a departure from the established policy of containing Tehran through diplomacy and sanctions.
Some members of his transition team are currently conducting a more critical evaluation of the military-strike option against nuclear facilities.
They are considering the potential fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, the future of U.S. troops in the region, and Israel’s decimation of regime proxy militias Hezbollah and Hamas.
Transition officials have stated that Iran’s internal discussions have been significantly intensified by recent revelations regarding Tehran’s expanding nuclear program and its compromised regional position. Nevertheless, the issue is still in the early phases of deliberation.
Trump has expressed his apprehension regarding an Iranian nuclear breakout during recent phone interactions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to two individuals who have been privy to their discussions.
This suggests that Trump is searching for solutions to avert such an outcome.
The president-elect is interested in strategies that avoid the possibility of a new war, particularly one that could involve the U.S. military.
This is due to the fact that bombing Tehran’s nuclear facilities has the potential to place the U.S. and Iran on a collision course.
Iran is the sole nonnuclear-weapon nation that is currently producing 60% near-weapons-grade fissile material. This is due to the fact that it possesses an adequate quantity of highly enriched uranium to construct four nuclear devices.
The conversion of that stockpile into nuclear fuel of weapons-grade would require only a few days.
U.S. officials have previously stated that Iran may require several months to develop a nuclear weapon.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the transition team of the president-elect is currently formulating a “maximum pressure 2.0” strategy against the regime.
This strategy is a continuation of the president’s initial approach, which was centered on the implementation of stringent economic sanctions during his first term.
This time, the president-elect and his advisers are developing military strategies that could be instrumental in their anti-Tehran campaign, albeit in conjunction with more stringent financial penalties.
In discussions, including some that have taken place with Trump, two broad options have been proposed, according to four individuals who are familiar with the planning.
One approach, as described by two individuals who are acquainted with the plan, entails the increase of military pressure in the Middle East by dispatching additional U.S. forces, aircraft, and ships.
Additionally, the United States has the option of providing Israel with sophisticated weapons, including bunker-busting missiles, in order to enhance its offensive capabilities and disrupt Iranian nuclear facilities.
An alternative approach is to employ the prospect of military force, particularly in conjunction with U.S.-imposed sanctions, to persuade Tehran to enter into a diplomatic resolution.
Despite the fact that the diplomacy ultimately failed, that was the approach Trump took with North Korea during his first term.
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