Attack on Iran getting closer? Trump got a 'grand plan' on his desk

The Pentagon and the White House presented President Donald Trump with a number of options for striking Iran, including a major bombing campaign against regime facilities, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the daily, US Middle Eastern allies are seeking a diplomatic solution, but so far to no avail.

“Grand Attack Plan on Iran”

According to the newspaper, Trump recently received information about attack options developed jointly by the White House and the Pentagon. These include a “grand” plan that involves large-scale bombing of the Iranian regime and facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Other possibilities include attacks on symbolic targets of the regime, which would provide space for an escalation of bombing if Iran does not agree to end its nuclear program, or cyberattacks on Iranian banks.

The daily wrote that a number of America's Middle Eastern allies – Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Egypt – have tried in recent days to persuade the US and Iran to reach a diplomatic solution, but to no avail. On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also made an attempt during a telephone conversation with Trump. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Iran was ready to negotiate its nuclear program, but warned to separate the issue from Washington's other demands.

Iran showed no inclination to make concessions

Nevertheless, according to “WSJ”, Iran has so far shown no inclination to make concessions on key issues regarding its nuclear program. It refuses to abandon uranium enrichment and impose restrictions on its ballistic missile program.

Another US destroyer arrived in the Middle East on Thursday; as a result, the number of US warships present there increased to at least 10.

On Wednesday, Trump warned Iran that “time is running out” to reach a deal on Iran's nuclear program.

“A huge armada is heading towards Iran. It is moving quickly, with great strength, enthusiasm and determination. This is a larger fleet, commanded by the great aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, than the one deployed to Venezuela. As with Venezuela, it is ready, willing and able to accomplish its mission quickly, with speed and violence if necessary,” Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social.

“Let's hope that Iran will quickly 'sit down to the table' and negotiate a fair and just agreement – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – beneficial to all parties,” he added. Trump also threatened that the new attack would be “far worse” than the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities last June.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

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