Trump orders 'swift strike' on Iran, but advisers don't guarantee results
US President Donald Trump has informed his national security team of his intention to use a "swift and decisive strike" that will not turn into a long war in the event of military action against Iranю
NBC News reported this, citing sources familiar with the situation.
According to the sources, Trump is not planning an operation that will take weeks or months. At the same time, the president's advisers cannot guarantee that the Iranian regime will be quickly defeated after a possible strike.
The White House also expresses concern that the United States may not currently have enough military resources in the region to deter a possible tough response from Iran. This factor, according to sources, may affect Trump's decision on the scale and format of any action.
Because of these risks, the president, according to the sources, may limit himself to a limited strike as a first priority, leaving open the possibility of further escalation. As of Wednesday, no final decisions have been made, and the situation is changing rapidly.
Trump has previously publicly stated that "help is on the way," addressing protesters in Iran, and called the situation in the country "fragile." Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president said he had received information that the killing of protesters had stopped and that planned executions had been halted, which could have previously triggered a US military response.
According to Trump, Washington will continue to monitor developments. NBC News also notes that the president is ready to support Iranian protesters if he deems it necessary. This week, he outlined for his team the desired outcomes of potential military action, after which the Pentagon began to prepare appropriate options.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, meanwhile, the United States is redeploying an aircraft carrier group from the South China Sea to the Middle East.
Reuters also reported that the US military may launch a military operation against Iran within the next day.
According to NBC News, the United States evacuated some of the personnel from the Al Udeid air base in Qatar. The Americans acted similarly before the June 2025 strikes on Iran.
At the same time, American analysts record the withdrawal of tens of millions of dollars by Iranian officials. The process began in late December, amid growing anti-government protests.