Trump Orders Military Attack on Iran This Weekend

President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to prepare for a new attack on Iran, potentially commencing as soon as this weekend, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal published on Friday. The objective of these strikes is to compel Tehran to surrender, as cited by unnamed U.S. officials speaking to the newspaper. This directive follows shortly after President Trump expressed skepticism regarding ongoing negotiations with Iran and reiterated threats of a forceful response to a recent attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. During a Cabinet meeting on Friday, the President stated, "We'll be hitting them very hard. And at some point they'll say we just can't take it anymore." Separately, CBS reported that U.S. officials are considering targeting Iran's energy infrastructure, including oil refineries and power plants, which would represent a significant escalation of the current military campaign. Advocacy groups have noted that the deliberate bombing of civilian targets could be classified as war crimes. Following the CBS report, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices rose above $86 a barrel in post-settlement trading on Friday afternoon. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not directly confirm or deny the reports of an imminent assault but issued a statement asserting that "Iran will continue to pay until they come to the table in, what President Trump deems, a meaningful way." The President has a history of issuing broad threats of escalation that he has later modified. The ongoing conflict has also led to a depletion of U.S. munitions, particularly air defense interceptors essential for defending against attacks on military bases. The conflict, which began on February 28 with extensive airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel, has seen unintended consequences. Iran responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for the transport of oil, natural gas, and fertilizer shipments. Although Iran's armed forces are outmatched by the U.S. military, Tehran's drone and missile attacks on Persian Gulf neighbors have disrupted regional business and daily life. This week, Egypt became involved in the conflict.