US and Iran on the Brink of Conflict
In a developing situation, US President Trump has reportedly greenlit internal plans for a potential attack on Iran, pending a decision on whether the country will abandon its nuclear program, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources.
When asked if he had made up his mind to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump is said to have replied, “I could do it, I could leave it.” The US President reiterated his demand for an unconditional surrender from Iran and hinted that the coming week could be pivotal, with the possibility of events unfolding in less than a week.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, however, has vowed that his country will not surrender, warning that a US military intervention would have irreparable consequences.
Meanwhile, the US military has been bolstering its presence in the region, with additional heavy warships being deployed to the crisis zone. Israel and Iran, on the other hand, have continued their military exchange of blows, with Israel claiming to have gained the upper hand, despite sustaining damages. A hospital in Beersheba, Israel, was hit by an Iranian rocket, resulting in casualties.
The death toll in Iran has risen to over 639, according to a human rights group, while in Israel, 24 people have lost their lives in Iranian attacks.