US President Donald Trump Weighs Broader Military Action if Iran Nuclear Talks in Geneva Fail

US President Donald Trump has signaled to senior advisers that if diplomatic talks with Iran — or a limited initial strike — fail to halt Tehran’s nuclear program, he is prepared to consider a broader military campaign in the coming months, according to sources familiar with internal White House discussions.

American and Iranian representatives are expected to meet in Geneva in what officials describe as a last-ditch effort to avoid escalation. At the same time, Washington is preparing contingency plans should negotiations collapse.

According to US sources, Trump is currently inclined to approve a targeted strike in the coming days, aimed at pressuring Iran’s leadership to abandon its capacity to produce nuclear weapons.

Potential Targets and Escalation Scenarios

Options under review reportedly include strikes on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters, nuclear facilities, and infrastructure linked to Iran’s ballistic missile program.

In private discussions, Trump has also left open the possibility of a more expansive military operation later this year, potentially designed to weaken or destabilize the leadership of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

However, officials within the administration have expressed skepticism about whether airstrikes alone could achieve such sweeping objectives.

A Situation Room meeting this week reportedly included Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other senior security officials. Sources said no final decision has been made.

Vance, who has previously voiced caution about overseas military involvement, did not reject the option of a strike but sought detailed assessments of risks and operational complexity. Military officials noted that Iran presents a far more challenging operational environment than previous theaters.

Special Forces Option Shelved

Earlier deliberations included the possibility of deploying US special forces to destroy deeply buried nuclear and missile infrastructure beyond the reach of conventional munitions. That option has reportedly been frozen due to the high risk and the requirement for sustained operations inside hostile territory.

Security officials have also raised concerns about the strain a prolonged conflict could place on US military readiness, including naval deployments, airlift capacity and missile defense resources.

Diplomatic Proposal on Limited Enrichment

Behind the scenes, a potential diplomatic off-ramp is being discussed. According to sources, the initiative originated from the office of Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The proposal would allow Iran to enrich uranium in limited quantities strictly for medical purposes, such as producing isotopes for research and cancer treatment. Iran’s Tehran Research Reactor, established in the 1960s with US assistance under the “Atoms for Peace” program, already produces medical isotopes.

Under this framework, Iran could argue it had not entirely relinquished enrichment rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Washington could claim that pathways to weapons production had been closed.

It remains unclear whether Tehran would accept reducing a multibillion-dollar nuclear program to a narrowly defined civilian scope — or whether Trump, who has publicly demanded “zero enrichment,” would endorse such a compromise.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has reiterated that Iran will not forfeit its right to produce nuclear fuel under the NPT but has said a diplomatic solution remains possible.

Major US Military Build-Up in Region

Meanwhile, the United States has deployed what officials describe as its largest regional force concentration since preparations for the 2003 Iraq invasion. Two aircraft carrier strike groups, fighter jets, bombers, tanker aircraft and missile defense systems are now positioned within operational range of Iran.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is en route to the eastern Mediterranean and is expected to operate near Israel’s coast.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly declined to comment on specific deliberations, stating that “only the president knows what he will or will not do.”

Regional Stakes and European Doubts

Senior administration officials have outlined multiple justifications for potential military action, including preventing nuclear weaponization, curbing missile threats to Israel, countering Iranian support for Hamas and Hezbollah, and responding to domestic repression inside Iran.

European officials, however, have expressed doubts that military pressure alone would compel Tehran to abandon a program widely viewed within Iran as a symbol of national sovereignty.

With forces already positioned and diplomatic channels narrowing, the coming days are expected to determine whether a compromise can be reached — or whether the current crisis escalates into direct military confrontation with significant regional consequences.