ABC News reported that U.S. President Donald Trump received a military briefing outlining potential options for striking Iran amid escalating tensions. Military advisers discussed whether Israel could carry out the strike or whether a joint operation might be conducted. According to the sources, the options range from limited strikes targeting nuclear and missile sites to broader campaigns that could last for weeks.
According to a person close to the president who spoke to the network, the briefing was also attended by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Keane, along with senior military advisers, according to a second source familiar with the discussions.
The network quoted two informed sources saying that several Republicans and some Trump administration officials have privately floated the idea in recent days that Israel could carry out a strike on Iran instead of the United States initiating military action directly.
According to the sources, the options presented to Trump include a limited strike targeting Iranian ballistic‑missile platforms and nuclear sites as a warning intended to force Tehran to accept U.S. demands, as well as a scenario involving a wide‑scale operation hitting numerous targets over a longer period.
It was also noted that the strikes could aim to weaken Iran’s air‑defense systems in preparation for a more sustained military campaign, potentially even one aimed at toppling the regime—an option analysts say could last for weeks and carry significant risks, with no guarantee that it would result in a government more aligned with U.S. interests.