The Digest:
US President Donald Trump is weighing a limited military strike on Iran to pressure Tehran into accepting a new nuclear deal, according to The Wall Street Journal. If approved, the strike could come within days, targeting a few military or government sites. Trump has given Iran 10 to 15 days to reach an agreement, warning that otherwise "really bad things" would happen. Options under consideration range from a weeklong campaign aimed at regime change to smaller-scale waves of strikes. A Trump adviser estimated "a 90 percent chance" of strikes within weeks if talks fail. Meanwhile, the US has amassed a significant military force in the region, with the USS Gerald R. Ford joining the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group near Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the notion of an ultimatum, stating Tehran will soon present a draft nuclear agreement.
Key Points:
- Military action could escalate the regional conflict, disrupting global oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The US buildup and threat of strikes create high-stakes pressure but risk triggering Iranian retaliation.
- Iran's economy would face further devastation if sanctions continue, while US allies brace for potential fallout.
- The ultimatum tests whether diplomacy or military force will determine the outcome of the nuclear standoff.
- Timing, with a 10-day window, forces rapid decision-making amid a massive US naval deployment.
Sources: NYTimes, Vanguard, BBC
