US President Donald Trump continues to threaten Iran with possible military strikes if it does not meet demands ranging from nuclear enrichment to ballistic missiles.
In comments posted Tuesday to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, President Trump hinted at the possibility of aggressive action if a deal with Iran is not reached.
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“Either we come to a deal or we’re going to have to do something very tough,” Trump told reporters.
The remarks came as Iranian Security Chief Ali Larijani met with Oman’s King Haitham bin Tariq Al Said to discuss the results of last week’s talks between U.S. and Iranian officials.
In recent weeks, President Trump has touted the buildup of U.S. forces in the region, sending a “massive fleet” into nearby waters. The deployment also includes the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.
Channel 12 and news outlet Axios reported Tuesday that President Trump is also considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East.
The military buildup has fueled fears that a U.S. attack on Iran is imminent. Critics fear such attacks could destabilize the region.
Already on Monday, the US issued guidelines for US-flagged commercial vessels, warning them to “stay as far away as possible” from Iranian territorial waters.
increasing demands
Since January, President Trump has increased U.S. pressure on Iran, warning that Iran’s military is “locked down, well-equipped and ready to deploy.”
President Trump also compared the situation in Iran to that in Venezuela, where a U.S. military operation on January 3 led to the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro.
On January 28, President Trump said on social media: “Just like in Venezuela,[the U.S. military]is ready, willing and able to quickly and violently accomplish the mission if necessary. Hopefully, Iran will come ‘to the table’ quickly and negotiate a fair and equitable deal.”
Late last month, the Trump administration issued three sweeping demands to Iran. These include a halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment, calls for severing ties with regional proxies, and limits on Israel’s long-sought ballistic missile stockpile.
On Tuesday, President Trump reiterated his position that Iran should comply with demands, telling news outlet Fox Business that it would be “stupid” not to do so.
During his first term, the U.S. president withdrew his country from the 2015 deal that imposed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Since assuming his second term in office in January 2025, President Trump has resumed his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.
This push includes tough sanctions and pressure to scrap Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran insists is only for civilian energy purposes.
Already in June last year, President Trump authorized military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities as part of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.
Response to anti-government demonstrations
Trump’s new threats in January coincided with a recent wave of anti-government protests in Iran.
Tehran’s government responded to the demonstrations with a violent crackdown that left thousands dead and drew widespread condemnation from human rights groups.
Reports revealed that state security forces opened fire on crowds of protesters as the country was under internet blackout.
On January 2, the day before military action in Venezuela, President Trump threatened to intervene on behalf of protesters and “come to the rescue,” but ultimately declined to do so.
Some analysts say the proposed attack on Iran would do little to help protesters but would be consistent with the long-standing goal of the United States and Israel to reduce Iran’s military capabilities.
Tehran claims the protests have included violent targeting of security forces by armed groups, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of police officers. He also accused outside forces such as the United States and Israel of supporting anti-government demonstrations.
Details about the protests and their crackdown remain difficult to verify, but Iranian authorities have acknowledged that the government’s response has left thousands of people dead.
“Chaotic War of Choices”
The prospect of U.S. intervention in Iran has sparked a domestic backlash against President Trump.
On Tuesday, a coalition of 25 advocacy groups called on the U.S. Congress to advocate for increased oversight of President Trump’s use of the military in the face of his threats against Iran.
Their letter coincided with the new War Powers Resolution introduced by Sens. Tim Kaine and Rand Paul on January 29th.
The bill calls for removing U.S. forces “from hostilities within or against Iran” unless authorized to act by Congress.
Advocacy groups called on other lawmakers to support the bill and ensure it passes.
“Iran has not attacked or threatened an offensive attack against the United States, and Congress has not authorized any military action against Iran,” the letter said.
“As a coalition of groups concerned about reckless military escalation, we call on Congress to represent our constituents, assert our constitutional role, and prevent an unauthorized war with Iran.”
Signatories to the letter included the Center for International Policy, J Street, CODEPINK, Common Defense, and Just Foreign Policy.
However, no war powers resolution has been passed so far. After the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, lawmakers unsuccessfully pushed through a similar bill that sought to prohibit further “unjustified hostilities” against Iran.
A bill to limit President Trump’s military operations in Venezuela also faced defeat last month.
Generally, under the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the sole authority to authorize war and similar military actions. But critics say presidents in recent decades have increasingly exercised control over the country’s military.
Ryan Costello, policy director for the National Iranian American Council Action (NIAC), told Al Jazeera that a war powers resolution against Iran could face a difficult road. His organization was among those that signed Tuesday’s letter.
Still, Costello expressed optimism. He noted that Congress passed similar resolutions in 2019 and 2020 during President Trump’s first term, but the Republican president ultimately vetoed both bills.
Costello said Congress needs to act again given the risk of war between the United States and Iran.
“The chaos and bloodshed of a new war with Iran, combined with the prospect of pressure from Congress on the War Powers Resolution, is likely to make a diplomatic off-ramp look more appealing,” Costello said.
“Passing the War Powers Resolution is a high bar, but Congress passed it during President Trump’s first term, forcing an unusual veto. We hope to maintain the pressure and do what voters want, which is to keep the United States away from another chaotic war of choice.”
