International

IIE DIGITAL DESK :  June 19, 2025 — former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly approved military strike plans targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—most notably the deeply buried Fordow enrichment facility. he has not yet issued the final order, instead opting to monitor Iran’s response to mounting nuclear and diplomatic pressures.

According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, Trump gave private authorization to draw up plans for a targeted strike, with command authority intentionally withheld to give Iran an opportunity to de-escalate . He told confidants, “I may do it, I may not do it,” stressing that his final decision would come “one second before it’s due”.

This move comes as Iran’s nuclear advancements have once again become a flashpoint in a wider conflict that began with Israeli airstrikes on June 13 targeting multiple Iranian facilities.

U.S. military assets have been repositioned across the Middle East and Europe in recent days. A third Navy destroyer is now in the eastern Mediterranean, a carrier strike group is headed toward the Arabian Sea, and advanced aircraft and missile-defense systems are being deployed in strategic hubs .

Officials from the Department of Defense, including Secretary Hegseth and General Caine, have confirmed that multiple strike options are being actively prepared. But they emphasized that any final decision “rests with the president”. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed that Tehran “does NOT negotiate under duress” and has warned of “irreparable damage” should the U.S. intervene .

The Fordow nuclear enrichment site, buried deep beneath a mountain and heavily fortified, remains a prime—yet highly resistant—target. Israel’s forces have avoided attacking Fordow, recognizing the technical challenge. It would require precision bombardment—potentially by U.S. B‑2 stealth bombers—to succeed .

Since June 13, Israel–Iran hostilities have intensified. Iran reportedly launched more than 400 missiles and over 1,000 drones at Israeli territory, while Israeli defenses intercepted a significant number. A hospital in southern Israel was struck, leaving civilians wounded .

Civilian tolls continue to grow: more than 224 in Israel and upwards of 600 in Iran, sparking global concern and urgent calls for diplomacy . European leaders are pushing for renewed negotiations, with talks scheduled in Geneva this week between Iran and Western diplomats .

Trump’s decision appears to straddle military readiness and diplomatic hope. His administration has reportedly issued Iran a 60-day window to abandon its nuclear agenda—but that deadline has now lapsed, coinciding with the current military maneuvers .

Echoing his “maximum pressure” strategy, Trump’s team reinstated comprehensive sanctions on Iranian oil exports earlier this year and even probed high-level correspondence with Tehran’s Supreme Leader to press for talks.

The United States stands on a precarious pivot between military intervention and diplomatic engagement. With military plans approved but not enacted, the world waits to see whether Iran’s stance or global pressure will avert a U.S. strike—or whether Trump’s strategic delay masks a deeper readiness to act at the drop of a hat.