Trump Gives Iran Ten To Fifteen Days, War Could Start With Limited Strikes

Illustrative image. (U.S. Navy)

President Donald Trump said on February 19 that Iran had at most 15 days to make a deal on concerns starting with its nuclear program, suggesting the United States would attack if it did not.

“We’re either going to get a deal, or it’s going to be unfortunate for them,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

Asked about his timeline, Trump answered, “I would think that would be enough time — 10, 15 days, pretty much maximum.”

Interestingly, earlier on the same day, the U.S. President suggested just 10 days for the Islamic Republic to reach an agreement.

A report published later by The Wall Street Journal said that Trump is considering launching preliminary limited strikes on Iran with the aim of forcing the Islamic Republic to agree to his demands for a nuclear deal.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the newspaper said the initial strikes could occur within days if approved by Trump, with the attack targeting several military or government sites. If Iran still continues to reject Trump’s demand to give up its enrichment program, the report says the U.S. will then broaden its military offensive to include regime targets, with the possible goal of removing it from power.

One of the sources told The Wall Street Journal that Trump could start with more limited strikes before ramping them up until the regime either agrees to disassemble its nuclear program or is toppled.

The report contradicts with a recent one from Axios, which said that the U.S. and Israel were preparing a weeks-long attack on Iran.

The U.S. military buildup in the Middle East gained momentum in recent days with the deployment of dozens of warplanes, including F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets, F-16CJ Wild Weasel optimized to attack air defenses, and E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control (AEW&C).

In addition, the USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Mediterranean Sea on February 20, which means it could join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East in just a few days.

Amid the military buildup by the U.S., Iran warned in a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that it will consider bases, facilities and assets of the “hostile force” in the region as legitimate targets in case of war.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric toward Iran “signals a real risk of military aggression,” Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations said in the letter sent on February 19, adding that the Islamic Republic does not want a war, but will respond “decisively” if subjected to military aggression.

All in all, a U.S. attack on Iran may be just a few days away. Trump’s timeline should not be taken seriously, and is likely more of an attempt to mislead Iran.

The reports of a limited attack should not also be taken seriously, as Iran is guaranteed to fire back with full force, and the response will for sure force the U.S., and even Israel, to go all in. Any attack on the Islamic Republic, limited or not, will likely escalate into a war within hours.

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