Senior U.S. officials are actively preparing for a potential strike on Iran in the coming days, signaling that Washington may soon escalate its role in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
According to sources familiar with the internal discussions, the preparations are already underway across key federal agencies, with some suggesting the possibility of a weekend strike.
The situation remains fluid and could shift quickly.
President Donald Trump, who has increasingly shifted his tone in recent days, has hinted at the possibility of military action against Iran. Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, he remarked, “I may do it. I may not do it,” while emphasising his preference to make a decision “one second before it’s due.” He also said, “I have ideas as to what to do,” reflecting the mounting pressure in the region as Iran and Israel approach a full-scale war.
This represents a stark reversal from Trump’s earlier stance, where he advocated for diplomacy and a nuclear disarmament deal with Iran. However, as concerns grow that Tehran may be nearing nuclear capability, Trump’s position has hardened. A U.S. official confirmed that “all options remain on the table.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, reiterated Tehran’s commitment to diplomatic solutions, writing on social media that Iran “had never sought and would never seek nuclear weapons.”
Upcoming nuclear talks between Iran and the foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany are scheduled for Friday in Geneva, offering a potential diplomatic off-ramp.
Despite calls for restraint, some in Washington, including Senator Lindsey Graham, are urging Trump to act decisively. “He gave them a chance for diplomacy. I think they made a miscalculation,” Graham said. “The sooner we end this threat to mankind, the better.” Graham, a close Trump ally, emphasised the president’s resolve, stating he is “very focused, very calm” and determined to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
This possible shift toward military engagement has caused significant friction within Trump’s own political base.
Influential figures in the “America First” and MAGA movement, including Steve Bannon and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have spoken out against U.S. involvement in another Middle Eastern war. “We can’t do this again,” Bannon said, referencing past conflicts like Iraq. “We’ll tear the country apart.”
Bannon warned that the U.S. must proceed cautiously and not act without public support or careful consideration. “This is not something you play around with… the American people have to be on board.”
Trump’s longtime supporters are expressing deep unease. Greene posted, “Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel-Iran war is not America First/MAGA. We are sick and tired of foreign wars. All of them.”
Even prominent conservative commentator Tucker Carlson voiced concern, clashing with Senator Ted Cruz in a viral exchange over the latter’s calls for regime change in Iran. Carlson accused Cruz of recklessly supporting military escalation, saying, “You don’t know anything about Iran!”
The divide within the Republican Party is evident, though some, like Vice President JD Vance, sought to defuse tensions. “People are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy. But I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue,” Vance posted.
Trump, unfazed by the backlash from his base, insisted his stance remains rooted in national security. “My supporters are more in love with me today, and I’m in love with them more than they were even at election time,” he told reporters. “I only want one thing: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
He acknowledged that “some of his supporters are a little bit unhappy now” but stressed the importance of preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power. “I’m not looking to fight. But if it’s a choice between them fighting or having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do,” Trump said.