Trump’s Threatened Strikes to Push Iran Deal Risk Backfiring

A US Sailor signals a Sea Hawk helicopter as it delivers cargo to the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford on Feb. 7.
Photographer: Petty Officer 2nd Class Mariano Lopez /US Navy

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By Natalia Drozdiak and Anthony Capaccio

February 20, 2026 at 9:57 PM UTC

Updated on

February 22, 2026 at 3:35 AM UTC

President Donald Trump said he is considering limited military strikes to pressure Iran into signing a new nuclear deal, but bombing the country may have the opposite effect, risking a new destabilizing conflict in the Middle East.

The Pentagon has orchestrated a massive deployment to the region that includes two aircraft carriers, fighter jets and refueling planes, giving Trump the option to launch limited, or extended, operations against Iran.