Trump has approved a strike on Iran

Trump told his senior advisers that he has approved military plans against Iran, but is refraining from giving a final order while watching to see if Tehran gives up its nuclear program, The Wall Street Journal reported.

"I may or may not do it. Next week will be very important, probably less than a week," Trump said.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said Iran will not give up and warned that any US military intervention would have irreparable consequences.

The U.S. has significantly increased its military presence in the Middle East. A third U.S. Navy destroyer has entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and a second U.S. aircraft carrier strike group is heading toward the Arabian Sea. Although the Pentagon has said that these actions are purely defensive, but they improve the US position in case Trump decides to join Israeli attacks on Iran.

Such actions could be a pressure tactic to force Iran to capitulate or make concessions.

Photo: White House.