With Iran’s regional allies weakened and its nuclear program advancing, President-elect Trump’s advisers see a rare window of opportunity to finally end Iran’s ability to obtain the dreaded bomb.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump’s transition team is developing what they’ve termed a “maximum pressure 2.0” strategy with two options on the table. The first path involves increased U.S. military presence in the Middle East, including additional forces, warplanes, and naval vessels. This approach would also include providing Israel with advanced weaponry, such as bunker-busting bombs, enhancing its capability to disable Iranian nuclear facilities.
The alternative strategy would be to leverage the threat of military force, combined with U.S.-imposed sanctions, to compel Tehran toward a diplomatic resolution similar to Trump’s first-term approach with North Korea; however, that diplomatic effort ultimately stalled.
Iran’s expanding nuclear capabilities have intensified sensitive internal discussions, as the regime has reportedly accumulated enough highly enriched uranium to construct four nuclear bombs. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts warn that Iran’s ability to convert its 60% enriched stockpile to weapons-grade nuclear fuel could be accomplished in a matter of days, though U.S. officials have previously estimated it might take Iran several months to field an actual nuclear weapon.
In recent conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump has repeatedly voiced concerns about an Iranian nuclear breakout occurring during his presidency. According to two individuals familiar with these discussions, Trump has expressed an openness to exerting military pressure but doesn’t want to ignite a new war, particularly one that could entangle U.S. forces.
While Israel’s government has not commented on whether it would launch pre-emptive strikes during Trump’s administration, Netanyahu’s recent statement about seeing “eye to eye on the Iranian threat in all its components” with Trump suggests growing alignment. Current and former Israeli officials acknowledge significant challenges in executing solo strikes against Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities, potentially necessitating U.S. participation in any joint operation.
Some transition officials caution that these proposals could evolve as cabinet positions are filled, classified information becomes available, and consultations with regional allies proceed. Former Trump administration officials note that the president-elect typically avoids deep engagement with foreign policy details until presented with finalized options requiring immediate decisions.
