WASHINGTON—President Trump is weighing an initial limited military strike on Iran to force it to meet his demands for a nuclear deal, a first step that would be designed to pressure Tehran into an agreement but fall short of a full-scale attack that could inspire a major retaliation. In 2018, during a period of heated nuclear rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang, the first Trump administration weighed a limited, pre-emptive strike on North Korea . The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again. Last year, the White House said it would give Iran two weeks to make a similar nuclear deal. But just days later, B-2 bombers and other platforms attacked three Iranian nuclear sites, setting back the country’s nuclear work.

Source: Wall Street Journal February 21, 2026 07:08 UTC