Official U.S. government policy announcements or credible news analysis

Trump Weighs Preemptive Airstrikes, 'Maximum Pressure 2.0' Strategy Against Iran's Nuclear Ambitions

Dec 13, 2024, 06:30 AM

President-elect Donald Trump is considering a range of measures to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, including the possibility of preemptive airstrikes, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal. This approach marks a potential shift from the longstanding U.S. policy of containing Tehran through diplomacy and sanctions. Trump's transition team is exploring a strategy known as 'maximum pressure 2.0,' which would combine military actions with stringent economic sanctions. The discussions come in the wake of Iran's weakened regional position following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and Israeli military actions against Hezbollah and Hamas. Trump has expressed concerns about Iran's nuclear capabilities to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, indicating his intent to prevent any nuclear escalation during his term. The options under consideration include increasing U.S. military presence in the Middle East, selling advanced weaponry to Israel, and using the threat of military force to push Iran towards a diplomatic resolution.