US President Donald Trump told his top aides that he agrees with plans to strike Iran but has not given the final order yet. According to the Wall Street Journal, he wants to wait and see if Iran will stop its nuclear programme before taking further action.

One possible target for the US is Iran’s Fordow enrichment facility, which is built deep underground and is very hard to destroy. Experts say only the most powerful bombs could reach it.

When asked if he had made a decision to attack, Trump said, “I may do it, I may not do it.” He added, “The next week is going to be very big, maybe less than a week.” Trump also repeated that Iran must fully give up its nuclear plans with no conditions.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said Iran was a few weeks away from having a nuclear weapon before Israel began striking Iran last week, and now he wants total victory, not a ceasefire. He reiterated his no-compromise stance on the nuclear ambitions of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“We’re not looking for a ceasefire. We’re looking for a total and complete victory,” Trump declared. “Again, you know what the victory is: no nuclear weapon.”

The president emphasised the US’s unmatched military capability when asked about Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear facility, long suspected of housing sensitive nuclear operations.

“We’re the only ones that have the capability to do it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to do it — at all,” he said, hinting at possible restraint but maintaining a veiled threat.

Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said his country would not surrender. He warned the US that any military move would lead to serious consequences.

US MILITARY BUILD-UP IN MIDDLE EAST

The US has been moving more military forces into the Middle East in recent days. A third Navy destroyer has entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and another aircraft carrier group is on its way to the Arabian Sea, reported WSJ. The Pentagon said this is only a defensive move, but it also gives the US the ability to join Israel if it attacks Iran.

At the same time, the situation on the ground is getting worse. A human rights group said that over 450 people have died in Iran due to recent attacks, while 24 people have died in Israel from Iranian attacks.