Former President Donald Trump is thinking seriously about whether the United States should help Israel with its recent attacks on Iran. This includes the possibility of using powerful “bunker-buster” bombs to hit Iran’s underground nuclear sites. However, Trump and his top advisors are trying hard to find a way to do this without starting a full-scale war.
Daily news highlights show that Trump is trying to avoid getting the U.S. involved in another long and costly war overseas. He wants to help stop Iran from building nuclear weapons, but he also wants to keep his promise to stay out of foreign conflicts.
1. Trump Waiting to See What Israel Does First
According to U.S. and European sources, Trump is waiting to see how much progress Israel can make in its attacks on Iran before deciding whether to use American military forces. Over the weekend, some U.S. allies were told that the Trump team would wait until the end of Israel’s first week of attacks before making any moves.
Trump has already seen military plans for attacking Iran. However, he said he has not made a final decision yet. In fact, he told his team that with war, decisions can change quickly and must be made at the last moment.
“I like to make the final decision one second before it’s due,” Trump said from the Oval Office.
2. Trump Doesn’t Want Another Long War
People close to Trump say he believes the U.S. could strike Iran without going into a full war. His former ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, said that the U.S. could drop a powerful bomb on a key nuclear site and then leave. He argued this would not mean America is dragged into a larger fight.
But many U.S. allies are worried. They fear that Iran might try to block the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for the world’s oil supply — or rush to build a nuclear weapon if attacked. Iran has already said it will fight back if the U.S. joins Israel’s military campaign.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told CNN,
“If the Americans get involved, we will strike back in self-defense.”
3. Looking Back at the Soleimani Strike
Some in Trump’s team are comparing this situation to 2020, when the U.S. killed top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike. That attack caused tensions but did not start a full war. Trump’s advisors say this proves a small but strong action could work again.
Still, Trump has ruled out targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader for now.
4. Key Officials Giving Trump Advice
Trump’s national security team is helping him explore all options. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate that their goal is to make sure Trump knows all the possible results of each action.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has also been giving Trump the latest intelligence. He joined Trump at Camp David before Israel’s attacks began to share updates about Iran’s nuclear plans.
Another voice Trump is listening to is General Michael Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command. Kurilla has been asking for more military resources in the Middle East to support Israel and prepare for any emergencies.
5. Concerns from U.S. Senators
Many U.S. lawmakers are unsure about military action. Senator Jim Risch said Trump has done a good job so far by keeping all options open. But others, like Senator Josh Hawley, said they do not want another war in the Middle East.
“I’m a little worried about the military buildup,” Hawley said.
The Pentagon is already preparing for a possible Iranian response if Trump goes ahead with a strike. Plans are being made to protect U.S. forces in the region.
In his recent comments, Trump made his goals clear:
“I only want one thing: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “That’s it.”
