President Donald Trump has approved military strike plans targeting Iran but has yet to make a final decision on launching an attack or formally joining Israel’s ongoing air campaign, according to senior U.S. intelligence and defense officials who spoke to CBS News.
The move comes amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Iran, with Israel launching airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites since last week.
The U.S., while publicly claiming a non-combat role, has reportedly provided support in intercepting Iranian missile responses.
Sources say Trump held off on greenlighting the operation in hopes that Tehran might still agree to abandon its nuclear ambitions. The President’s hesitation, officials claim, is driven by his desire to give diplomacy a final chance before escalating to full military engagement.
The White House has not issued an official statement on the matter, and requests for comment have gone unanswered.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, President Trump emphasized the fluidity of the situation.
“I like to make the final decision one second before it’s due, because things change, especially with war,” he said. “I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
In a separate statement on Truth Social, the President said his “patience is wearing thin” regarding Iran’s continued nuclear activity, while reiterating a preference for diplomatic resolution.
CBS News earlier reported that Trump was weighing a potential U.S. airstrike on Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility — a heavily fortified, underground uranium enrichment site. So far, Israel has not targeted Fordo in its air raids, focusing instead on other military installations.
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The Wall Street Journal was first to break the news of Trump’s approval of strike plans.
Iran, in a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, declared it “does NOT negotiate under duress” and warned it would respond to “any threat with a counter-threat.”
A senior U.S. intelligence official and a Pentagon source confirmed that Iran has already prepared missiles and mobilized military assets in anticipation of possible U.S. involvement in the conflict.
The officials said Iran is ready to strike American bases in the Middle East if the U.S. aligns itself directly with Israel’s military offensive.
While the U.S. has yet to conduct offensive operations, defense officials confirmed ongoing cooperation with Israel, including intelligence-sharing and support in intercepting retaliatory Iranian missile launches.
Despite his refusal to commit to an all-out strike, Trump has sent strong signals about Washington’s growing frustration with Tehran.
On Tuesday, he wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. knows the exact location of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling him “an easy target,” but added: “We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”
CBS News previously reported that Trump had rejected a proposal from Israeli officials to assassinate Khamenei, further complicating the dynamic between the two allies as the crisis deepens.
The unfolding standoff has triggered alarm across the international community, with fears that a direct U.S. military strike could escalate the conflict into a broader regional war.
Analysts warn that if diplomacy fails and the U.S. joins the Israeli campaign, it could provoke an all-out confrontation involving proxy forces and destabilize key parts of the Middle East.
As of Wednesday night, military planners remain on high alert, awaiting a potential presidential order that could dramatically shift the geopolitical landscape.