Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump has made his most pointed remarks yet about possible American military action against Iran, telling reporters Wednesday that a decision could come within days and that the next week would be “very big” in shaping the future of the escalating war between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump said at the White House. “The next week is going to be very big — maybe less than a week.”
Trump’s comments came hours after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the U.S. that any intervention would bring “irreparable damage,” and following Israel’s continued strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile-related sites.
Trump confirmed he was scheduled to meet again with top advisers in the White House Situation Room — his second such session in as many days — to evaluate military options. While he has not confirmed any decision to authorize direct U.S. strikes, he signaled flexibility and unpredictability.
“I have ideas as to what to do, but I haven’t made a final [decision]. I like to make a final decision one second before it’s due,” Trump said, citing the fluid nature of wartime decisions.
U.S. Military on Alert, Strike Options Under Consideration
The Pentagon this week redeployed the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and three missile-guided destroyers from the South China Sea toward the Middle East, a move viewed as part of pre-strike preparations. The ships are expected to arrive in the region in about a week.
Should Trump authorize action, one likely target would be Fordow, Iran’s fortified nuclear enrichment site buried beneath a mountain. A U.S. strike could involve stealth B-2 bombers carrying 30,000-pound GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs, launched from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, testifying before Congress, said the Pentagon is “prepared to execute” any directive from the president.
“President Trump’s word means something. The world understands that,” Hegseth told lawmakers. “We already have in many ways re-established deterrence. The question is, in the coming days, exactly what direction that goes.”
Israel: Step-by-Step Strikes Amid Ongoing Losses
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he held a “very warm” phone call with Trump the previous evening and vowed that Israel would continue targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
“We are attacking nuclear installations, missiles, command centres, and the symbols of the regime,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel was “advancing step by step” despite “painful losses” from Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes.
Earlier Wednesday, Israel announced it had struck a centrifuge production site and missile component factories, while Iran responded later in the evening with a missile salvo targeting Tel Aviv and central Israel. Preliminary reports suggested that all incoming projectiles were successfully intercepted.
Diplomatic Back-and-Forth
Trump claimed Iran had recently signaled interest in negotiations, even suggesting it wanted to send a delegation to the White House.
“Iran’s got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate,” Trump said. “It’s very late to be talking, but nothing’s too late.”
However, Iran’s mission to the United Nations denied the president’s assertion, posting on X:
“No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House. Iran does NOT negotiate under duress.”
In a televised message to the Iranian people, Khamenei rejected Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender”, describing it as an attempt to erase the country’s nuclear capabilities.
“Those with wisdom who know Iran, its people and history, will never use the language of threat to address this nation,” Khamenei said.
“The Americans should know that any U.S. military engagement will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage.”
What Comes Next
While Trump says no final decision has been made, military movements and political signals suggest preparations for potential U.S. involvement are well underway. Analysts warn that any American strike, particularly on nuclear infrastructure, would be a major escalation with far-reaching consequences for regional and global stability.
As Trump prepares for what he calls a “very big week,” the world watches closely to see whether the U.S. will move from deterrence to direct confrontation with Iran.
