Trump approaches legacy-defining moment on Iran: A deal or war
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. WASHINGTON—President Trump is at a crossroads that could define his legacy: He could sign a deal that curbs Iran’s nuclear program, or launch a war with hard-to-control consequences for the U.S. and the Middle East.
Trump has said he would prefer a strict agreement that stops Tehran from ever being able to develop nuclear weapons—a potentially historic breakthrough. Should Trump instead order an attack, in the hope of coercing the Iranian regime or even bringing it down, he would be risking a major conflict that could envelop the rest of his presidency. The moment is one of Trump’s own making, according to officials and analysts.
He promised in January to support Iranian street demonstrators protesting the regime’s violent repression, but no U.S. intervention came. Trump then laid out a set of demands for Tehran: no more nuclear enrichment, strict limits on its ballistic missiles and an end to support for regional proxy militias such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, he built up U.S. forces on Iran’s doorstep, assembling the largest concentration of air power in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. If Iran, which denies seeking a nuclear bomb, rejects Trump’s demands, the U.S.
leader’s options range from a limited initial strike to try to pressure Tehran into concessions to a prolonged bombing campaign aimed at destroying the regime and its military. The Supreme Court’s decision on Friday to slap down Trump’s use of tariffs could make a U.S. attack on Iran more likely, said Wilbur Ross, who was commerce secretary in Trump’s first term.
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