Trump Threatens Military Action Against Iran Within Next 10-15 Days

US President Donald Trump has threatened to take military action against Iran in 10-15 days, urging them to complete a nuclear deal.

Trump has been pushing Iran towards a deal that would ban the Middle Eastern nation from attempting to create nuclear weapons, but resistance from Iran has complicated the situation.

Back in June, the United States conducted several strikes on Iran during the latter's conflict with Israel, wiping out their nuclear program. Most of the bombs hit nuclear sites above ground, but the operation also dropped specific bombs meant to destroy underground bases and tunnels.

However, intelligence has shown that Iran still possesses enriched uranium, a key component of nuclear weapons, and Trump intends to guarantee that Iran would never gain this technology.

Trump also heavily opposes the authoritarian regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has held a tight grip over Iran's government for decades. Thousands of people were killed last month during a severe crackdown on demonstrations, many of which were advocating against his regime.

To execute his goals, Trump has confirmed that he may need to take military action, shown by the United States' recent shifts in assets over the past few weeks. The nation has moved two aircraft carrier strike groups, with a third on the way; over 100 attack planes like F-16s, F-22s, and F-35s; over a dozen ships, including destroyers and aircraft carriers; and ground-to-air defense systems like THAAD and the Patriot missile system to prevent against strikes.

Most of these assets are being held at American bases in the Middle East, like Qatar's Al-Udeid Air Base, while their naval carriers are stationed across the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea. The military buildup is the United States' largest since the Iraq War in 2003, suggesting that a major conflict could take place.

Nevertheless, Trump claimed yesterday that they are still unsure whether an attack will take place or not: "Now we may have to take it a step further or we may not. Maybe we are going to make a deal. You are going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days."

Negotiations are still taking place, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is scheduled to make a visit to Iran to oversee the dilution of their enriched uranium resources.

Iran appears to be willing to dilute their 60% enriched uranium down to as low as 3-6%, but wishes to maintain the capability to enrich for possible future purposes. They have requested the lifting of economic sanctions, though, and are looking into fostering a strong economic partnership with the US.

Trump could agree to this version of the agreement, but the issue of Khamenei's authoritarian regime remains– the Iranian people have attempted to oust him with no success, and his approval ratings are at their lowest point ever. Military action from the US could crush his regime and open the door for a fairer system of government in the future, but the Trump administration has not hinted towards either option.

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