The Trump administration is actively preparing for a potential round of military strikes against Iran, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter, even as delicate diplomatic negotiations between the two nations continue.
As of Friday afternoon, no final decision on whether to launch the strikes had been reached. However, the escalating situation has already disrupted the president’s personal schedule. In a social media post, President Trump announced that “circumstances pertaining to Government” will prevent him from attending his son Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding this weekend. While the president initially intended to spend the Memorial Day holiday weekend at his New Jersey golf property, he is now returning directly to the White House.
The military footprint is shifting rapidly in anticipation of potential conflict. Several sources confirmed that some members of the U.S. military and intelligence community canceled their holiday weekend plans due to the possibility of upcoming strikes. Defense and intelligence officials have also started updating recall rosters for overseas installations. Simultaneously, tranches of U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East are rotating out of the theater—a strategic move aimed at reducing the American military presence in the region to mitigate the risk of Iranian retaliation.
This friction comes during a fragile period of calm. The U.S. and Iran have largely avoided direct military engagement since a temporary ceasefire took effect in early April, a pause meant to allow indirect negotiations for a long-term agreement.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly outlined the administration’s position, stating that Trump has “made his redlines abundantly clear: Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, and they cannot keep their enriched uranium.”
“The President always maintains all options at all times, and it is the job of the Pentagon to be ready to execute any decision the Commander-in-Chief could make,” Kelly said. “The President has been clear about the consequences if Iran fails to make a deal.”
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Tehran has responded with its own warnings. On Wednesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps cautioned that any new strikes from the United States or Israel could expand the conflict well beyond the Middle East, vowing “crushing blows … in places you cannot even imagine.”
Currently, Iranian officials are reviewing a fresh U.S. proposal designed to end the nearly three-month-old war. The conflict has severely rattled global energy markets and driven fuel prices upward. The proposal was sent to Iran on Wednesday, alongside an explicit warning that a rejection of this “final offer” would result in a resumption of U.S. military strikes, according to a source who spoke with CBS News.
“Iran is dying to make a deal,” Trump said on Friday. “We’ll see what happens.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump stated he was willing to give Tehran “a couple of days” to reply to the offer. He noted that his team was “pretty impressed” by the Iranian negotiators, but emphasized that the U.S. requires strong enough assurances to guarantee the conflict will not reignite in the future. Iran’s formal response is expected to be delivered soon through Pakistan, which is serving as the diplomatic intermediary.
Before departing on a flight to India, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the administration expects to receive Iran’s reply via the Pakistani field marshal, who has been the primary communication conduit between the two sides. Rubio stated that Trump favors diplomacy over military action and noted that progress has been made, though he acknowledged more work remains.
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Rubio also mentioned recent discussions held in Sweden with NATO allies regarding a coordinated effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force if necessary. He explicitly labeled this military option as “Plan B” should Iran refuse to reopen the strategic waterway on its own.
Meanwhile, political maneuvers in Washington have stalled. House Republicans abandoned an effort on Thursday to hold a vote that would limit Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran. Party leadership dropped the measure after concluding they did not have the necessary votes to block the resolution from advancing.
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