Trump considering initial limited strike against Iran, source says [View all]

Source: ABC News

February 19, 2026, 8:57 PM


President Donald Trump on Thursday was considering a range of options for military strikes against Iran, including a possible limited strike aimed at enhancing the United States' negotiating position, a person familiar with the planning told ABC News.

The president was also considering larger-scale strikes on government, military and nuclear targets, the person said.

The options, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, came as the president declared a 10-day deadline -- "15 maximum" -- for the two sides to cut a deal on its nuclear and ballistic missile program. If Iran didn't meet U.S. demands, Trump said, "really bad things" would happen. "We're either going to get a deal or it's going to be unfortunate for them," he said Thursday.

The U.S. military in recent weeks has surged more than 100 aircraft and a dozen ships, including two aircraft carriers, to the Middle East -- an extraordinary buildup of military assets in such a short period.

Read more: https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-initial-limited-strike-iran-source/story?id=130319679