Trump Considering Major Strike on Iran as Talks Collapse

The United States is weighing a range of military options against Iran after preliminary talks between Washington and Tehran failed to produce progress, according to reports by CNN and Reuters. President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, officials said, but is reviewing scenarios that include both targeted strikes and broader attacks on strategic Iranian assets.

The deliberations come as a visible U.S. military posture expands in the Middle East and a renewed reassessment inside the administration of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. The discussions reflect growing frustration in Washington over the stalled diplomatic track and concern that Iran continues to advance sensitive capabilities despite past U.S. strikes.

According to CNN, options under consideration include airstrikes against senior Iranian leaders and security officials viewed by the U.S. as responsible for the killing of protesters during recent unrest, as well as attacks on nuclear facilities and government institutions. Trump has yet to authorize any action but believes his military options have widened following the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the U.S. Central Command area earlier this week.

U.S. officials cited by CNN said there is uncertainty inside the administration over why Trump has shifted renewed focus to Iran’s nuclear program after previously claiming that key facilities were destroyed in U.S. strikes in June 2025. One official said Iran has sought to rebuild or expand nuclear infrastructure deeper underground, complicating assessments of the program’s current status.

American officials have demanded that Iran meet strict conditions before any new talks can resume, including a complete halt to uranium enrichment, limits on its ballistic missile program, and an immediate end to funding armed groups across the Middle East. Sources told CNN that Tehran has rejected those terms and that no serious negotiations have taken place.

As tensions rise, the U.S. continues to move additional forces into the region. Officials said Washington plans to deploy one or more THAAD missile defense systems as part of a broader effort to protect U.S. forces and regional partners. An intelligence source cautioned that while the Iranian regime is under pressure, even the elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would not guarantee collapse, warning that potential successors could be just as hardline and that there is no indication Iran’s security services are prepared to turn against the government.

Trump, according to CNN, is seeking a decisive and forceful strike that would compel Iran to accept U.S. ceasefire terms and allow him to declare a “quick victory.” Officials said that unlike past U.S. efforts in Venezuela, Washington has not engaged Iranian opposition figures about a framework for an alternative government.

Reuters separately reported that Trump is also considering strikes designed to encourage renewed protests inside Iran. According to U.S. sources, the president has asked advisers to explore targeting officials and institutions Washington holds responsible for violently suppressing demonstrations that killed thousands, in the hope of restoring protesters’ confidence that the regime could be challenged..