US Consideration of Military Strike Against Iran

21 UPDATES · 13 DAYS · 20 FEB 2026 — 3 MAR 2026

Congress

Latest · 3 Mar 2026

Trump refuted claims that Israel pressured him into the Iran strikes, while some officials and critics questioned the move's alignment with his foreign policy.

What this timeline covers

This event covers Donald Trump's ultimatum to Iran during the Board of Peace meeting, including reactions, analyses, and follow-up developments related to this specific occurrence. It excludes other actions by Trump, Iran, or the Board of Peace unless they are direct developments of this particular ultimatum and meeting.

The full story, from the beginning

20Feb

STORY BEGINS — BBC

Trump's foreign policy dilemma laid bare by Iran tensions

24Feb

The Guardian

President Trump is considering a military strike against Iran, but faces uncertainty about the potential consequences and the outcome of his envoys' assessment.

25Feb

Al Jazeera

Donald Trump expressed a preference for diplomatic solutions to tensions with Iran while warning against Iran's nuclear program development.

South China Morning Post

Ali Shamkhani, a veteran Iranian military commander, has been appointed secretary of Iran's newly established Defence Council.

26Feb

BBC

After two rounds of indirect talks, the US and Iran are set to meet in Geneva for a third round to discuss a nuclear deal.

The Guardian

Iran and the US are engaging in critical nuclear talks in Geneva, with Iran demanding concessions and the Trump administration maintaining a hard line on ballistic missiles.

The Guardian

US and Iran negotiators continue tense talks in Geneva, facing significant hurdles over uranium enrichment, inspection mechanisms, and Iran's ballistic missile program.

The Guardian

House Democrats will force a vote next week to compel President Trump to appear before Congress to explain his plans for Iran.

28Feb

The Guardian

A joint Israeli-US attack disrupted ongoing diplomatic talks between the two countries, jeopardizing the potential for a peaceful nuclear resolution.

Al Jazeera

Following a military attack on Iran, both the US and Israel claim success in eliminating key Iranian figures, but the conflict's long-term impact remains uncertain.

The Guardian

President Trump escalated US foreign policy by announcing a military strike against Iran in a social media video.

1Mar

The Guardian

Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran with force, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has sparked a range of reactions from his supporters and political figures.

Al Jazeera

A Reuters-Ipsos poll reveals that only one in four Americans support US-Israeli attacks on Iran, with significant divisions among political parties.

2Mar

The Guardian

Escalation in the Middle East following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Iranian retaliations has sparked global concern about potential wider conflict.

The Guardian

Democrats in Congress are demanding immediate votes on war powers resolutions to limit President Trump's military actions against Iran.

The Guardian

Pete Hegseth, leading the Pentagon, defended the US-Israeli military operation in Iran as a "resistance" against political correctness.

Al Jazeera

Donald Trump asserted that the projected duration of the Iran war is four to five weeks, but the US military can extend it further.

The Guardian

The Trump administration justified pre-emptive airstrikes against Iran by citing the certainty of a retaliatory attack from Iran.

3Mar

Times of India

Following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, resulting in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran retaliated with strikes against Israel and Gulf states.

Al Jazeera

Experts conclude that US and Israeli strikes against Iran are likely to violate international law due to their lack of authorization and potential for civilian harm.

LATEST UPDATE — The Guardian

Trump refuted claims that Israel pressured him into the Iran strikes, while some officials and critics questioned the move's alignment with his foreign policy.

Story concluded