Washington, Feb 20 (.) US President Donald Trump is considering authorising a limited military strike against Iran in an attempt to coerce Tehran into accepting Washington’s terms for a new nuclear agreement amid waning patience and increasing frustration, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing individuals familiar with internal deliberations.
The proposed initial operation, which could reportedly be launched within days if approved, would involve targeted strikes on a small number of Iranian military or government facilities.
The primary objective is to pressure Tehran to make a settlement with short-scale attacks, stopping short of a full-scale assault due to worries of triggering region-wide instability across the region.
As per sources cited by Iran International, Washington’s strategy envisions a tactically calibrated, and calculated escalation of hostilities. If Iran refuses to comply with Trump’s demand to halt nuclear enrichment activities, the US could follow up with a broader campaign targeting key government infrastructure, potentially including facilities central to the functioning of the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
The limited-strike option, not previously disclosed, suggests that Trump may be weighing military action not only as punitive measure for Iran’s failure in reaching a deal over its nuclear programme, but also as a means of leverage to securing an agreement, favouring the US.

One person familiar with the discussions said the president could “start small” and escalate incrementally, increasing the scale of attacks until Iran either dismantles its nuclear programme or faces severe internal destabilisation.
In recent days, however, deliberations have reportedly shifted toward consideration of more expansive military scenarios.
Officials cited in the WSJ report indicated that conversations inside the administration have increasingly focused on larger-scale campaigns rather than strictly symbolic or limited actions.
Trump has made no secret of his increasing frustration over the lack of progress in talks with Tehran, with senior cabinet officials stating that his patience is wearing increasingly thin, as the US president has repeatedly warned Iran that failure to reach a settlement could result in serious consequences, signalling that military options remain firmly on the table.
European diplomats who briefed on recent negotiations in Geneva between Washington and Tehran described the talks as strained, with both sides unwilling to move from what they regard as core positions. According to diplomats, both sides had outstanding differences, and US officials have grown sceptical about Iran’s willingness to make substantive concessions.
One European diplomat characterised Tehran’s negotiating approach as a deliberate method to delay meaningful negotiations by focusing on technical details.
“The Iranians were planning to drown them in technicalities and delay substance,” the diplomat said. “While a more traditional approach would have built on the dialogue, Trump does not have the patience.”
The reported consideration of a limited strike underscores the fragile state of diplomacy, further raising the prospect of rapid escalation should negotiations collapse altogether.
With military options under active review and talks reaching virtually nowhere, despite some constructive communications, tensions between Washington and Tehran appear to be entering a decisive phase as neither side is willing to back down and their fingers are ever ready on the trigger. . . KK