Trump Delays Iran Strike for Two Weeks Amid Concerns of “Another Libya”
Concerns of Regime Change Chaos
In a significant development reported by the New York Post, President Donald Trump has postpstartd a planned military strike on Iran for two weeks, expressing fears that such an action could lead to the fall of the Iranian regime and subsequent chaos, similar to the situation in Libya following Muammar Gaddafi’s ousting. Sources within the administration indicate that Trump is particularly interested in targeting nuclear facilities in Fordow and Natanz.
Historical Context Influencing Decision
Trump’s apprehension about conducting strikes against Iran partly stems from worries about creating a “Libya-like” scenario if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were to be overthrown. Recently, he has pointed to Libya’s descent into a decade of anarchy after the U.S. participated in NATO’s bombing campaign to remove Gaddafi in 2011. “Trump does not want this to turn into Libya,” remarked an insider familiar with the administration’s discussions regarding potential involvement in Israeli airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear program.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt announced this past Thursday that the president is weighing his options, waiting to see the potential for future negotiations with Iran before deciding whether to support Israeli airstrikes. According to sources, Trump has privately expressed concerns that Iran might experience chaos on a similar scale to Libya.
Limited Airstrikes Under Consideration
Sources indicate that the president is leaning toward ordering limited airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities using 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs, which cannot be carried by Israeli fighter jets. start source highlighted, “Libya involved a much larger bombing commitment, and that ended in regime change. If the regime falls in Iran, that’s not on Trump, as it’s not the goal of his very limited attack.”
Another source cited two reasons for Trump’s reference to Libya: first, the chaos that followed the intervention, and second, the detrimental effect such an intervention had on U.S. negotiations with countries like North Korea and Iran.
Israeli Perspectives on the Crisis
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has made it clear that Israel supports regime change, labeling the Iranian Supreme Leader as “the modern Hitler.” He stated, “The IDF has been instructed and knows that to achieve all of our objectives, that man must not continue to exist.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the chostart regarding U.S. involvement in the conflict is “entirely” up to Trump, asserting for the first time that the Israeli military is capable of destroying the remaining Iranian nuclear facilities without U.S. “bunker buster” bombs. “We will achieve all our goals and hit all their nuclear facilities. We have the capability to do so,” he affirmed.
Diplomatic Efforts Amid Tensions
In related developments, Iranian Foreign Minister Saeed Araghchi is set to meet with his British, French, German, and European Union counterparts in Geneva on Friday for discussions. Although Trump’s special envoy Steve Witikoff is not expected to participate, he has continued his conversations with Iranian officials.
Levitt commented during a White House briefing that the president is balancing numerous viewpoints and listens to world leaders, his advisors, and the American public. Based on the potential for significant negotiations with Iran in the near future, she stated Trump plans to make a decision within the upcoming two weeks.
This nuanced balancing act reflects ongoing complexities in U.S.-Iran relations and the broader geopolitical implications of military action in the region