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U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly contemplating a major military strike on Iran following unsuccessful preliminary discussions over the country’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile capabilities, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Trump’s renewed threats have been met with fierce warnings from Tehran.
CNN, on Thursday, cited a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declaring that any US attack would trigger retaliation against Israel, while Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the armed forces were “prepared — with their fingers on the trigger — to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea.”
The development marks a sharp pivot in Washington’s approach to Iran, coming only weeks after Trump considered strikes in the context of nationwide protests, which were violently suppressed, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
On Wednesday, Trump posted on Truth Social, demanding that Iran agree to “a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS,” warning that any subsequent US attack “will be far worse” than last summer’s military action against three Iranian nuclear sites.
Sources say options under consideration include airstrikes targeting Iranian leadership and security officials linked to protest-related killings, as well as attacks on nuclear sites and government facilities.
Although no final decision has been made, Trump believes the presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Indian Ocean, now moving closer to Iran, enhances US military options.
Diplomatic efforts earlier this month, including communications via Omani intermediaries and exchanges between Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Araghchi, failed to yield a meeting.
The United States has insisted on preconditions, including a permanent halt to uranium enrichment, curbs on ballistic missiles, and an end to support for regional proxy groups. Iran has refused to discuss missile limitations, agreeing only to negotiate its nuclear programme.
“We are open for business…as they say, so if they want to contact us and they know what the terms are, then we’re going to have the conversation,” a US official told reporters. “They’ve been reported throughout this entire beginning of the Trump administration, so they’re aware of the terms.”
The United States is simultaneously preparing for possible Iranian retaliation, deploying additional Patriot batteries and planning to move THAAD missile defence systems to the region.
The Air Force is conducting a multi-day exercise to test dispersal, operational readiness, and combat sortie generation alongside regional partners, said Lt. Gen. Derek France, Central Command’s air component commander.
Tehran’s threats have been echoed by Ali Shamkhani, adviser to Khamenei, who declared on X that any US military action would be treated as the start of war, specifically naming Tel Aviv as a potential target.
Recent intelligence suggests that Iran’s regime is historically weakened following last year’s US and Israeli strikes, as well as domestic unrest, with Trump openly calling for regime change.
“It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” he told Politico, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted the government “is probably weaker than has ever been.”
Yet experts caution that removing Khamenei may not topple the regime. “Even if you remove the ayatollah, his successors are all hardliners, too,” said a source familiar with US intelligence. Rubio added that “no one knows” who would succeed the supreme leader.
All options remain under consideration for Trump, with officials saying any military action would aim to force Tehran to accept US terms swiftly.
While Trump compared the possible strike to the December operation in Venezuela, officials warned that Iran presents a far more formidable challenge.
Its network of air defences, ballistic missiles, drones, and aging yet battle-tested aircraft complicates any attempt at a decisive strike. Tehran’s location several hours inland from the coast further increases operational difficulty.
Key regional allies have already refused to allow US forces to use their territory or airspace. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have communicated their position to both Washington and Tehran, amid widespread concern over potential escalation.
Targeting Khamenei presents its own challenges. During June’s conflict between Israel and Iran, Israeli forces were unable to pinpoint the Ayatollah, despite eliminating top Revolutionary Guard commanders, demonstrating the difficulties inherent in locating and striking Iran’s supreme leader.
“He was a legitimate target for elimination, but it wasn’t possible this time around,” Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, said. “Khamenei understood this. He went deep underground to great depths, and even broke off contact with the commanders. So ultimately, it wasn’t realistic.” - January 29, 2026