The newly elected US president Donald Trump is weighing options to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon, the Wall Street Journal reports, quoted by News.bg.
The possibility of preemptive air strikes is being considered, including a move that would violate Tehran's long-standing policy of deterring it through diplomacy and sanctions.
The option of a military strike against nuclear facilities is the subject of more serious analysis by some members of his transition team, who are considering the fall of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - an ally of Tehran, the future of US troops in Syria and Israel's destruction of the proxy militias of “Hezbollah“ and “Hamas“.
Iran's weakened regional position and recent revelations of its burgeoning nuclear activities have fueled sensitive domestic discussions. But any discussions on the issue remain in their early stages.
Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent talks that he was concerned about Iran's nuclear progress, two people familiar with their discussions said. It is a signal that he is seeking proposals to prevent that outcome.
The president-elect wants plans that do not lead to another war, especially one that could involve the US military, since strikes on Tehran's nuclear facilities risk setting off a clash between the US and Iran.
Iran has enough highly enriched uranium to make four nuclear bombs. That makes it the only non-nuclear country to produce 60 percent of its weapons-grade fissile material. It would take just a few days to turn that stockpile into nuclear fuel for a weapon.
U.S. officials have previously estimated that it could take Iran several months to build a nuclear weapon.
Two options for deterrence are being discussed, including some with Trump, four people familiar with the planning said.
One option involves increasing military pressure by sending more U.S. troops, warplanes and ships to the Middle East. In addition, the United States could sell advanced weapons to Israel, such as bunker-busting bombs, to disable Iranian nuclear facilities.
The threat of military force, especially if combined with U.S.-imposed sanctions that have succeeded in crippling Iran’s economy, could convince Tehran that there is no other option but to resolve the crisis diplomatically.
The alternative path is to use the threat of military force, especially if combined with U.S.-imposed sanctions, to force Tehran to accept a diplomatic resolution. This is the strategy Trump used with North Korea during his first term, although diplomacy ultimately fizzled.
It is unclear which option Trump, who has talked about avoiding World War III and brokering agreements with Tehran, would choose. Although he says he is trying to avoid a massive escalation in the Middle East, in an interview with Time he suggested there was a chance the US could go to war with Iran, in part because Tehran had planned to kill him.
"Anything could happen", Trump said. "This is a very volatile situation."