Trump administration is prepared to consider a proposal allowing Iran “token” nuclear enrichment if it leaves no possible path to a bomb, a senior U.S. official told Axios on Saturday.
The Pentagon has reportedly presented U.S. President Donald Trump with options that include directly targeting Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei.
“President Trump will be ready to accept a deal that would be substantive and that he can sell politically at home. If the Iranians want to prevent an attack, they should give us an offer we can’t refuse. The Iranians keep missing the window. If they play games, there won’t be a lot of patience,” the senior U.S. official said.
The disclosure suggests there could be an opening, if only a small one, between the red lines set by the U.S. and Iran for a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear capabilities and prevent war, according to the report.
Military options include killing supreme leader of Iran
“The president hasn’t decided to strike yet. I know that because we haven’t struck. He might never do it. He might wake up tomorrow and say, ‘That’s it,’” one senior Trump adviser told Axios.
The adviser said the Pentagon had presented Trump with “numerous options.”
“They have something for every scenario. One scenario takes out the ayatollah and his son and the mullahs,” the adviser said, referring to Khamenei and his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who is seen as a potential successor.
“What the president chooses no one knows. I don’t think he knows,” the adviser added.
A second source speaking to Axios confirmed a plan to kill Khamenei and his son was floated to Trump several weeks ago.
“Trump is keeping his options open. He could decide on an attack at any moment,” another senior Trump adviser said.
Trump confirmed Friday that he is considering a limited military strike on Iran.
“I guess I can say I am considering that,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about limited military action to pressure Iran into a deal.
Hours later, Trump warned that Iran “better negotiate a fair deal.”
“The people of Iran are a lot different than the leaders of Iran, and it’s a very, very, very sad situation,” Trump said, adding that 32,000 people were killed over a “relatively short period of time.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Iran was planning to finalize a draft deal in “the next two to three days” to send to Washington.
