Trump signals possible U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites as Israel-Iran conflict intensifies and nuclear talks falter.

Trump Considers Military Action as Nuclear Standoff Escalates

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he has not ruled out authorizing military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, as the U.S. weighs its response to escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said the coming days—or possibly the next week—would be decisive, leaving open the possibility of direct U.S. military involvement.

“Yes, I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump remarked, describing Iran’s current situation as precarious. “Iran’s got a lot of trouble, and they want to negotiate.” Trump criticized Iranian leaders for abandoning nuclear talks scheduled for Sunday in Oman, emphasizing that the opportunity for a peaceful resolution had been available earlier.

The president has consistently maintained that Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon, citing both long-standing threats and his own track record on the issue. “If you go back and look at my history, if you go back 15 years, I was saying we cannot let Iran get a nuclear weapon. I’ve been saying it for a long time,” Trump asserted.

Amid heightened regional tensions, Trump issued what he called the “ultimate ultimatum,” pressing Iran to return to negotiations or face severe consequences. These statements followed a dramatic week in which Israel conducted large-scale airstrikes against Iranian nuclear sites, reportedly resulting in the deaths of several high-ranking military leaders. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israel, further intensifying the conflict.

Diplomacy Falters, Sanctions Intensify

While Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially stated that the U.S. was not involved in the Israeli strikes, Trump later told Reuters he was aware of the attacks before they occurred. Meanwhile, Iran has warned that any direct U.S. intervention in the conflict would trigger an “all-out war,” a position reiterated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei during an interview with Al Jazeera English.

With diplomatic talks at a standstill and regional violence escalating, the U.S. administration continues to apply maximum economic pressure on Tehran. Trump signed an executive order in February directing the Treasury Department to implement further sanctions, particularly targeting Iran’s vital oil exports, in an effort to limit the regime’s ability to fund its nuclear ambitions.

As the standoff deepens, President Trump’s comments leave the door open to military action while maintaining that diplomacy remains possible if Iran chooses to return to negotiations. However, the risk of broader conflict looms, with both Israel and Iran showing no signs of de-escalation and the U.S. standing ready to act should the situation deteriorate further.