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Trump secretly approves U.S. attack plans against Iran but holds final order as tensions escalate

By isabelle // 2025-06-20

• Trump approved attack plans on Iran but delayed the final order, awaiting Tehran’s response on nuclear enrichment.
• U.S. B-2 bombers armed with bunker-busting bombs are stationed at Diego Garcia and ready to strike Iran’s Fordow nuclear site.
• Iran vows "irreparable damage" if attacked, refusing to negotiate under military threats, while Russia warns against U.S. intervention.
• A strike could trigger a wider war, with U.S. intelligence doubting it would fully halt Iran’s nuclear program.
• Trump faces domestic pressure as military assets move into place, leaving little time for diplomacy before potential conflict.

The United States stands on the brink of direct military conflict with Iran after President Donald Trump privately approved attack plans but delayed giving the final order, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal. With six U.S. B-2 bombers armed with 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs now stationed at Diego Garcia within striking distance, the White House is waiting to see if Tehran will abandon its nuclear enrichment program before proceeding. Iran has warned that any U.S. intervention will bring "irreparable damage" to America, raising fears of a catastrophic regional war that could spiral out of control. Behind closed doors in the White House Situation Room, Trump reportedly told senior aides late Tuesday that he had endorsed military plans for an attack on Iran but was holding off on the final decision. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the president is banking on the threat of U.S. involvement to force Tehran into abandoning its nuclear ambitions. "I have ideas on what to do but I haven’t made a final—I like to make the final decision one second before it’s due," Trump told reporters Wednesday, maintaining his signature unpredictability. The U.S. has been assessing whether its Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs—weighing 30,000 pounds and capable of penetrating fortified underground facilities—can destroy Iran’s Fordow nuclear site, buried deep beneath a mountain. Israel, despite its ongoing airstrikes against Iranian targets, lacks the capability to take out Fordow, making U.S. involvement a critical factor in neutralizing Iran’s nuclear program.

Military buildup causing concern

The Pentagon has been rapidly reinforcing its presence in the Middle East, deploying warships, tanker planes for mid-air refueling, and an additional aircraft carrier group. Six B-2 Spirit bombers, the only U.S. aircraft capable of carrying the MOP bombs, are now positioned at the Diego Garcia base, a strategic UK-U.S. outpost in the Indian Ocean. British officials reportedly fear that any strikes launched from Diego Garcia could drag the UK into the conflict, further destabilizing the region. Iran has made it clear that it will not back down under military threats. In a defiant statement, Iran’s United Nations Mission declared, "Iran does NOT negotiate under duress, shall NOT accept peace under duress, and certainly NOT with a has-been warmonger clinging to relevance"—an apparent jab at Trump. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei echoed this resolve, warning that any U.S. military intervention would be met with devastating retaliation.

The high-stakes dilemma

If Trump greenlights an attack, the consequences could be dire. A strike on Fordow would likely provoke immediate Iranian retaliation against U.S. forces and allies in the region, potentially igniting a wider war. The U.S. intelligence community reportedly believes that even successful strikes would only delay Iran’s nuclear ambitions by months rather than eliminate them entirely. Meanwhile, Russia has already warned against U.S. military action, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling for an end to hostilities. Domestically, Trump faces pressure from both sides. While some conservative allies urge a hardline stance against Iran, others within his own political base fear another endless Middle East conflict. The president’s decision in the coming days—or even hours—could define his legacy as either a peacemaker or a wartime leader. Trump’s administration is playing a high-risk game of brinkmanship with Iran. The president’s hesitation suggests he may still prefer a diplomatic resolution, but with military assets in place and tensions at a boiling point, the window for de-escalation is rapidly closing. If diplomacy fails, the U.S. could soon find itself entangled in yet another devastating Middle East conflict. Sources for this article include: RT.com WSJ.com Telegraph.co.uk TheGuardian.com Reuters.com

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