A new report from The Wall Street Journal alleges that, behind the scenes, U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing for the possibility of a return to military operations against Iran.
According to the report, the president held multiple discussions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine about potential new strikes against Iran, but ultimately decided against them, hoping that peace talks in Qatar and beyond will succeed.
President Donald Trump plays golf in the Senior Club Championship at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Jupiter, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
The report, which cites anonymous sources familiar with the discussions, suggests that the president recognizes diplomacy with Iran may ultimately fail – and that preparations are underway to force Iran to concede in the event discussions collapse.
Trump Considered “Finishing the Job”
According to U.S. officials familiar with the discussions, the conversations in the White House focused on whether Washington should simply abandon negotiations after weeks of stalling and violations of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by both countries, or continue with diplomatic efforts despite the setbacks. Some officials told the outlet that the president was considering “finishing the job,” ensuring that Iran not only never develops a nuclear weapon but also cannot maintain any control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The report described how the president has still not ruled out future military action against Iran, but that he concluded in recent days that launching another broad offensive at this point would be costly.
Should he take that action, the president would risk an oil shock, disrupting the passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz again, right as the world’s strategic reserves are depleted.
It would also risk major escalation in the region, cost an untold amount of money to finish, risk escalation from Iran via its proxies, and hurt the Republican Party in the November midterm elections. There is a lot for Trump to lose – and clearly, he knows it.
President Donald Trump sits for an interview with Fox News journalist Rachel Campos Duffy, Monday, April 14, 2025.(Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
But the report also revealed that Trump believes strikes now could derail ongoing diplomacy, indicating that his primary goal is to ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon, and not necessarily to facilitate a regime change in the country.
For the president, the regime remaining intact is acceptable as long as the United States and global authorities can inspect Iranian facilities and ensure compliance with whatever nuclear deal may come at the end of the MOU’s 60-day negotiation period.
But since the signing of the 14-point memorandum in June, both Washington and Tehran have repeatedly accused one another of violating the agreement’s terms.
What’s more, continued conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which is unlikely to end permanently any time soon, has also prompted Iranian officials to threaten to walk away.
Trump Relaxes His 60-Day Deadline
The MOU sets a firm 60-day deadline for the U.S. and Iran to establish a peace deal.
“3. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America commit to negotiating and achieving the final Deal, in maximum 60 days extendable with mutual consent,” the document reads.
But for Trump, the 60-day deadline is more of a suggestion than it is a limit.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the president has privately informed his aides and confidantes that he is happy to see the negotiations spill over the designated August deadline as long as an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program can be made.
It seems that, for the White House, the primary focus is ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, that the global economy can begin to recover quickly over the summer, and that Iran ultimately agrees to a deal it considers a victory for the United States.
Extending the timeline serves an important purpose – assuming, of course, that Iran negotiates in good faith.
It reduces the immediate pressure for another military confrontation and gives negotiators more opportunities to resolve the most contentious issues, including the Iranian nuclear program and sanctions relief.
A return to military strikes, on the other hand, could ensure that these issues don’t even come close to being resolved in the near term and that the Strait of Hormuz will be held hostage by the regime for months longer.
A Dangerous Move?
That flexibility, however, also carries a risk. In recent weeks, U.S. forces have already had to strike Iranian coastal radar installations and missile and drone facilities near the Strait of Hormuz – precisely the kind of targets that the U.S. struck during the early days of the conflict.
The most recent strikes have sparked some speculation that Iran may have used its time since the April ceasefire and the June MOU to rebuild and restore some of those capabilities.
If negotiations drag on indefinitely, Iran could use the extra time not only to rebuild and restore sites that have already been damaged in U.S. strikes, but also to squeeze additional concessions out of the United States as the White House grows increasingly desperate to sign a deal and ensure months of negotiations don’t simply go to waste.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
