US President Donald Trump is weighing “a much bigger attack [on Iran] in coming months” that would topple the regime and its leaders, the New York Times reported on Sunday, citing individuals briefed on the matter.
The larger attack would come should Iran refuse to “give in to his [Trump’s] demands” regarding its nuclear program, according to NYT.
On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal similarly reported that Trump was considering options ranging from a weeklong campaign, with the goal of regime change, to a smaller wave of strikes designed to force Iran to agree to a deal favorable for the US.
Reported targets of the strikes could include the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s nuclear sites, or its ballistic missile program.
Though it is still unclear when and if the US will conduct the smaller wave of targeted strikes, recent reports have claimed the order to strike Iran could be given in the coming days.
“Behind the scenes, a new proposal is being considered by both sides that could create an off-ramp to military conflict,” NYT added, “A very limited nuclear enrichment program that Iran could carry out solely for purposes of medical research and treatments.”
According to several officials cited by the NYT, the proposal's idea was originally put forth by International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi.
“I believe that still there is a good chance to have a diplomatic solution,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS in a Sunday interview. “So there is no need for any military buildup, and military buildup cannot help it and cannot pressurize us.”
Third round of talks to start as US gathers forces
The claims come ahead of the third round of nuclear talks, set to take place in Geneva on Thursday, between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Araghchi, amid the US amassing its military forces in the Middle East.
Flight-tracking data shows that tanker planes, fighter jets, and other US military aircraft have been repositioned in recent days, including advanced F-35s, which can evade radar detection.
The current US arsenal in the area includes two destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea, one in the Red Sea, four in the Persian Gulf, and an aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by four destroyers in the Arabian Sea.
A second carrier strike group, the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived in the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, accompanied by its warships.
Tzvi Jasper contributed to this report.