US President Donald Trump clearly distinguishes the “Absolute Resolve” operation to capture Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela from US military operations against Iran, while the stance he maintains jointly with his top advisors is decisive. Specifically, Axios, citing White House sources, reports today (18/02) that a joint military confrontation between Israel-US and Iran would have greater consequences for the theocratic regime of the Islamic Republic and Trump’s presidency, compared to the 12-day war of June 2025, which concluded with American bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.
Read: USA: On the brink of war with Iran – Two-week ultimatum and fears of full-scale campaign
Trump: Explosive situation in America
The attention of the US Congress and average citizens in America is focused on other issues, such as the economy, ICE operations, and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Axios sources note that a decision for war against Iran would shock the United States. Of course, this isn’t the first time the American president has had his hand on the trigger to attack Iran, as in early January 2026 he had implied he would intervene to protect anti-government protesters, thousands of whom lost their lives to bloody and violent suppression by security forces. However, at the last minute, diplomacy was given a chance, resulting in Washington and Tehran beginning talks aimed at an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program. But at this moment, an agreement doesn’t seem likely.
Previous negotiations
Trump’s advisors, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for three hours in Geneva on Tuesday (17/02). While both sides declared the talks “made progress,” the gaps separating the two sides on key issues are enormous and American officials are not optimistic. “The US president is trying every way to find a solution here, either through diplomatic options or through some other option, which means the Iranians cannot acquire nuclear weapons,” said US Vice President J.D. Vance on Fox News.
For his part, the US Energy Secretary stated that “we will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons one way or another.” At the same time, American naval forces in the Middle East are being reinforced and are expected to soon have the strength of two aircraft carriers, with twelve escort warships, hundreds of fighter aircraft, while powerful air forces are being deployed with fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft like F-35s and F-22s.
Well-informed Axios sources argue that tensions with Iran have been maintained for such a long period that, combined with Donald Trump’s war rhetoric and the terrifying concentration of American military forces in the region, leave the American president no other solution but open military confrontation. Donald Trump’s moves are not a bluff, and judging the American president’s character, anything can happen, with signs indicating he will “pull the trigger” if talks with Tehran on Iran’s nuclear program fail.
