President Donald Trump said Friday he is considering military strikes against Iran, escalating a standoff over its nuclear program and following a brutal crackdown on protesters within the country. The statement came as the U.S. Continues a significant military buildup in the Middle East, including the deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups and the imminent arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford.
“I guess I can say I am considering that,” Trump told reporters when asked whether he was weighing limited strikes against Iranian leadership to compel a deal on its nuclear ambitions. The President had previously issued a 10- to 15-day ultimatum to Tehran on Thursday, warning of “really bad things” if a resolution isn’t reached.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, was observed entering the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, according to reports. The vessel is part of a larger military deployment ordered by Trump, intended to pressure Iran during ongoing negotiations. The Ford is expected to join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group already stationed in the region, representing a substantial show of force.
The buildup includes a surge in U.S. Military aircraft to Europe and the Middle East, according to a CBS News analysis. The USS Gerald R. Ford switched on its tracking system Wednesday, revealing its position approximately 175 miles off the west coast of Morocco, en route to the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea. This suggests a potentially faster arrival in the Eastern Mediterranean than initially anticipated.
The United States and Israel conducted a joint military operation in June 2025, targeting three Iranian nuclear sites. Following that operation, Trump claimed Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated.” The current escalation follows renewed concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and its response to widespread protests, which reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths.
The prospect of military action has drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna have announced plans to introduce a War Powers resolution in the House of Representatives, seeking to prohibit Trump from ordering military action against Iran without congressional approval. “Congress must vote on war according to our Constitution,” Massie wrote on X on February 18. “I will vote to position America first which means voting against more war in the Middle East.”
Legal experts have questioned the legality of potential strikes. David Janovsky, Acting Director of The Constitution Project at the Project on Government Oversight, stated that unilateral action by the President would likely be legally unjustified without congressional authorization. “There’s no indication that there’s any sort of circumstance that would give the President the unilateral authority to order military action,” Janovsky told TIME. He emphasized that a contemplated attack against a sovereign state constitutes an act of war, and the Constitution grants Congress the exclusive power to declare war.
Janovsky further explained that even as presidents have some inherent authority as Commander in Chief, it is limited to true emergency circumstances, such as repelling an attack or responding to an imminent threat. He noted that previous justifications for military action, such as collective self-defense with Israel, are unlikely to hold legal weight in the current situation.
A formal War Powers resolution restricting the President’s ability to strike Iran could alter the legal and political calculus, Janovsky said. A clear statement from Congress would signal disapproval of military action and potentially influence the decision-making process within the executive branch and the military. He too pointed to a historical pattern of congressional acquiescence to executive expansions of military power, highlighting the need for urgent action.
Iran’s Foreign Minister has indicated that a draft counterproposal to U.S. Demands is expected within days, following recent nuclear talks. Though, President Trump’s demands appear unlikely to be fully met by Tehran, leaving the possibility of military action on the table. The USS Gerald R. Ford’s arrival in the Mediterranean underscores a dual-track approach: continued negotiations alongside visible military pressure.
