President Donald Trump has approved a military strike plan targeting Iran but is delaying the final order to proceed, according to a report published Wednesday afternoon by The Wall Street Journal. The decision came after a high-level meeting in the White House Situation Room, signaling a potentially dramatic escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions.
Sources familiar with the discussions revealed that Trump gave preliminary approval for the operation late Tuesday. However, he has opted to wait before issuing a final directive, hoping Tehran might still reverse course on its nuclear ambitions.
“He approved of attack plans for Iran, but was holding off on giving the final order to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear program,” three individuals close to the talks told The Wall Street Journal.
The strike planning comes amid rising hostilities in the region, particularly between Iran and Israel. The two nations have already exchanged bombings, but Israel has not yet launched an assault on Iran’s nuclear facility. The site in question is said to be “buried under a mountain” and is regarded by military analysts as “out of reach of all but the most powerful bombs.”
This development stands in stark contrast to President Trump’s repeated promises during his 2024 re-election campaign. A central theme of his platform was ensuring there would be “no wars” under his leadership, a pledge aimed at distinguishing his foreign policy from those of past administrations.
Meanwhile, Iran appears to be signaling a shift in its stance. According to The New York Times, Iranian officials are now open to negotiating a ceasefire with the United States—a notable departure from earlier declarations that they did not wish to involve the U.S. in any diplomatic resolution.
While the possibility of military engagement looms large, some see Trump’s delay as a tactical move designed to pressure Tehran into compliance without immediate conflict. Others view it as a calculated effort to maintain his non-interventionist image while keeping military options on the table.
The situation remains fluid, with both diplomatic overtures and military strategies actively in play. As tensions simmer and world leaders closely monitor developments, all eyes are on whether Tehran will reconsider its nuclear program—and whether Trump will ultimately pull the trigger on a conflict he once promised to avoid.
For now, the strike plan is approved but paused, hovering in a dangerous state of uncertainty that could reshape global relations in the weeks to come.