Trump has discussed a timeline 1 for strikes on Iran – including as soon as this weekend – but no decision yet
Washington – Top national security officials have told President Trump that the military is ready for strikes on Iran as soon as Saturday, but the timeline for any action is likely to extend this weekend, sources familiar with the negotiations told CBS News.
Mr. Trump has not made a final decision about whether to strike, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national issues.
The talks have been described as fluid and ongoing, as the White House weighs the risks of escalation and the political and military consequences of restraint.
In the next three days, the Pentagon is temporarily removing personnel from the Middle East region – mainly in Europe or the United States – before a possible action or attack by Iran if the US continues its operations, according to many officials.
It is standard practice for the Pentagon to shift assets and personnel ahead of potential US military action and does not mean an attack on Iran is imminent, one of the sources said.
Contacted by CBS News on Wednesday afternoon, a Pentagon spokesperson said they had no information to provide.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to visit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in about two weeks to continue talks, according to one of the sources.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said at a White House briefing Wednesday that “there are many reasons and arguments that one could make to strike Iran” but negotiation is always the president’s first choice. He declined to discuss whether a possible strike would be coordinated with Israel.
Leavitt told reporters that the administration “had a successful operation in June that targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities. “Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and his administration,” he said.
I The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its flotilla of warships is already in place along with the second carrier group, i USS Gerald Fordit was on its way to the Middle East.
As of Wednesday, the Ford was off the coast of West Africa, according to cruise ship tracking data.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday posted an AI-generated photo of an underwater Ford.
“The US President always says that the US has sent a warship to Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous part of the military equipment,” reads Khamenei’s post on X. “However, more dangerous than that warship is a weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.”
Iranian and American negotiators held mediation talks on Tuesday over Iran’s nuclear program. The talks in Geneva, Switzerland, lasted several hours.
The Trump administration says some progress has been made, but on Wednesday Leavitt said, “We’re a long way from other issues.”
“I believe the Iranians are expected to come back to us with more information in the next few weeks, so the president will continue to watch how this plays out,” he said.
No date has been set for the next consultation.
Mr. Trump told Netanyahu during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in December that the president would support Israeli strikes on Iran’s missile program if a deal could not be reached between Washington and Tehran, two sources said.
Iran warned pilots on Wednesday to avoid the southern region of Iran on Thursday, due to the launch of rockets.
