Iran strikes ‘likely’ as Trump seeks maximum leverage

February 20, 2026 at 06:00AM

Iran strikes ‘likely’ as Trump seeks maximum leverage

President Trump is considering a limited strike on Iran in the coming days to gain leverage in negotiations. The planning aims to prepare the U.S. military for a prolonged conflict if diplomacy fails. Officials describe the approach as a calibrated escalation to pressure Tehran while avoiding full-scale war.