President Donald Trump has privately approved plans for a U.S. military strike on Iran, according to multiple sources cited in a late-breaking report by The Wall Street Journal, raising alarm over a potential war authorized without congressional input. While Trump has not yet issued a final order to strike, the United States has already begun moving significant military assets into position, suggesting that the administration is preparing for imminent escalation.
“The Wall Street Journal reported late Wednesday that Trump told senior aides that he ‘approved of attack plans for Iran, but was holding off on giving the final order to see if Tehran will abandon its nuclear program.’” The Journal’s reporting indicates that Trump’s decision follows intense pressure from Israeli officials and Republican lawmakers urging intervention as Israel wages war across the region.
As diplomatic avenues narrow, U.S. military preparations have advanced. “While Trump weighed his decision, the U.S. military continued to move forces to Europe and toward the Middle East,” the Journal noted, “including tanker planes to refuel aircraft in flight, warships capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, an aircraft carrier battle group, and advanced F-22 air-to-air fighters, which flew Wednesday to a base in Britain.”
CBS News also confirmed the mobilization, stating that “a carrier strike group, long-range bombers, refueling tankers and air-to-air fighters” had been dispatched. According to the CBS report, “U.S. officials said the deployment was meant to increase pressure on Iran,” which continues to enrich uranium “in defiance of the United States and its allies.” CBS noted that the buildup was described by officials as a “show of force.”
Despite this military buildup, the Trump administration has not sought congressional approval for any potential strike, raising concerns about legality and oversight. The Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, and under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the president is required to consult lawmakers before engaging in sustained military action. Critics argue that bypassing Congress in this context undermines democratic accountability and escalates conflict without proper deliberation.
There is no confirmed public evidence that Iran has posed an immediate threat warranting preemptive U.S. military action. Instead, the current posture appears to be driven by a combination of regional alliances—particularly with Israel—and a desire to pressure Tehran into halting its nuclear activities. The original 2015 nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), had limited Iran’s enrichment capabilities before the U.S. unilaterally exited the deal in 2018 under Trump.
The situation has sparked widespread concern among foreign policy experts and global allies, who fear a military conflict could destabilize the Middle East and provoke retaliation from Iranian-aligned forces. Iran maintains support from armed groups operating in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, and has previously demonstrated its capability to strike U.S. assets in the region. The likelihood of civilian casualties and humanitarian fallout in the event of war remains high.
As of now, Trump has made no public remarks confirming or denying the Journal’s report. The White House has remained silent on whether the president will ultimately authorize the use of force. CBS News stated that “everything is on the table,” according to senior administration officials.
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