After the failure of negotiations with Iran, the U.S. is considering a new powerful strike against the country. Targets of the attack may include Iranian leadership, state structures, and nuclear facilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a new major strike against Iran after preliminary contacts between Washington and Tehran to limit Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile production yielded no results, CNN reported on Wednesday, January 28, citing sources, as noted by DW.
On Wednesday, Trump posted a message on the social network Truth Social, demanding that Iran return to the negotiating table to reach a "fair and just deal - without nuclear weapons." He warned that the next U.S. strike on Iran "will be much worse" than the operation in the summer of 2025, during which U.S. military forces attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to sources, among the options being considered are U.S. airstrikes against Iranian leadership and security forces, which Washington holds responsible for the deaths of hundreds of participants in mass protests, as well as strikes on nuclear facilities and state institutions in Iran. A final decision has not yet been made.
Negotiations and U.S. Conditions
Earlier this month, the U.S. and Iran exchanged messages, including through Omani diplomats and via channels between Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, discussing a possible meeting to prevent a U.S. strike, sources noted.
A personal meeting was briefly discussed, but it never took place. According to sources, there have been no serious direct negotiations in recent days.
Washington, according to CNN sources, has put forward preliminary conditions for dialogue, including Iran's final abandonment of uranium enrichment, new restrictions on its ballistic missile development program, and cessation of support for regional proxy forces.
Stalemate in Negotiations
The key sticking point, according to sources, has been the U.S. demand that Iran agree to limitations on the range of its ballistic missiles. This issue is particularly significant for Israel, which expended a significant portion of its interceptor missile stocks during the 12-day war last June, countering Iranian missile strikes.
Iran rejected this demand and informed the U.S. that it is only willing to discuss its nuclear program. Washington did not respond, resulting in a stalemate, sources explained.
One U.S. official stated on Monday, January 26, that the administration remains open to contacts with Iran if Tehran accepts Washington's conditions.
U.S. Threats and Tehran's Strong Reaction
Trump's latest threats have provoked a strong reaction in Tehran. Iranian authorities announced an immediate response to any U.S. military actions, and one of the key advisors to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened strikes against Israel in the event of an attack.
Trump believes that his military options have expanded following the arrival of an American aircraft carrier strike group in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group entered the Indian Ocean on Monday and continues to move toward Iran. The Pentagon is also deploying additional air defense systems, including Patriot batteries, and plans to deploy mobile HAAD air defense systems to protect U.S. forces from a possible Iranian response.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the Iranian armed forces are ready to respond "immediately and powerfully" to any aggression against the country. Supreme Leader advisor Ali Shamkhani warned that military actions would be considered the beginning of war and threatened an "unprecedented" response.
Intelligence Assessments and Allies' Position
According to U.S. intelligence, the Iranian regime is in a weakened state after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities and allied groups last year, as well as amid recent mass protests in Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Iranian regime is "likely weaker than ever." However, sources note that even the removal of the Supreme Leader does not guarantee the collapse of the power structure, and there are currently no signs of a split within Iranian security forces.
Key U.S. allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have stated that they will not provide their airspace and territory for a possible operation against Iran, CNN sources reported.
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