Trump 'leans towards preferred option for Iran strikes'

Donald Trump has reportedly been given a number of military options for Iran as a potential campaign could begin 'within days.'

Trump has spent weeks discussing how best to use America's weaponry while a major US military buildup takes place in the Middle East, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

He appears to be leaning toward targeted and limited strikes on the regime as opposed to a full-scale war. 

Advisors believe the targeted attacks would help sway the Islamic Republic into making a nuclear deal. The strikes would aim to decimate only military and government sites as a first step, the Journal reported.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday, the president warned the US could bomb Iran if a deal isn't reached within 10 days.

An official in the region said the tactic would likely push Iranian officials out of negotiations for a 'significant period.' If it doesn't work, Trump could then strike regime facilities in an attempt to oust the entire leadership. 

While Trump has been 'repeatedly presented' this plan by senior aides, discussions in the Oval Office have largely focused on a larger plan of attack. 

'Only President Trump knows what he may or may not do,' White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told WSJ. 

Trump bragged on Thursday about bringing 'peace to the Middle East,' but then subsequently  threatened that if Iran doesn't make a meaningful peace deal 'bad things [will] happen.'

'We may have to take it a step further, or we may not. Maybe we're going to make a deal..,' Trump said of breakdowns in nuclear talks.

'You're going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days,' he added.

Trump last directed strikes in Iran over the summer. On June 19 the White House set a two-week window for the president to decide between whether to continue talks or take action. 

Three days later, he launched Operation Midnight Hammer where the US Air Force and Navy attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran. 

Trump has repeatedly said he wants to be the president that ends wars, but the meeting of the newly formed board comes after the US military significantly built-up air and naval assets in the Middle East in recent weeks.

This included moving aircraft carriers, fighter jets, submarines and other resources to the region.

Iran nuclear talks stalled after the recent round of negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland where the Middle Eastern nation requested more time with little-to-no breakthrough. 

Reports indicate that potential US targets in Iran could include its nuclear facilities, ballistic missile sites and military installations.

'Iran is a hot spot right now,' Trump said, but added: 'Good talks are being had.'

'It's proven to be over the years not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran – we have to make a meaningful deal otherwise bad things happen.'

The president touted his push to stop conflicts in establishing the Board of Peace and bragged again about ending eight wars during his time in office despite reports before his remarks claiming he could strike Iran 'as soon as this weekend.'

'An easy word to say but a hard word to produce – peace,' Trump said at the top of his remarks at the inaugural meeting with nearly 50 world leaders attending in-person or virtually.

He went on to say that the US and other countries represented on the board are 'very generous with money' to bring peace between nations and end ongoing conflicts.

'There's nothing less expensive than peace,' Trump said. 'You know, when you go to war, it costs you 100 times what it costs to make peace.'

'A lot of people in this room hate each other – you know, sort of natural, I guess,' the president went on. 'But we're bringing love back into the room like the old days.'

Trump brought to the meeting Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

Kushner, an advisor to the president, is serving as the special member of Trump's board of peace for the US.

The president posed with his delegation and the other nations' representatives for a family photo ahead of his remarks.

Trump insisted that the goal of his 'world peace' initiative is not to get prizes – a clear reference to his snub for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

'I don't care about the Nobel prize, I care about saving lives,' Trump insisted.

'I only have one thing – I don't want to see people killed,' he went on. 'And if I have the ability to turn off wars, I want to use that ability.'

The president reiterated: 'I want to save lives, and I don't care about prizes.'

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado pulled herself out of hiding to accept the award in Oslo. But she later secured a meeting with Trump where she gave him the physical medal to display in the White House.