The Iranian nuclear programme is not concentrated at a single site. Iranian facilities are numerous, dispersed across the country, and in many cases underground. Causing meaningful damage to the programme would require a significant military operation, likely necessitating some US involvement.
During his first years in office, Trump signalled a willingness to ease sanctions on Iran, even sacking John Bolton, his national security adviser, who “strongly” disagreed with easing sanctions.
Trump reportedly hoped the move would secure a meeting with the Iranian president, according to Bloomberg.
But in 2020, Trump ordered the strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian military commander, calling him “the number-one terrorist anywhere in the world”.
Iran reacted by issuing arrest warrants for Trump and 35 others on charges of murder and terrorism in connection with the killing. In 2022, a member of Iran’s IRGC was charged with plotting to kill Mr Bolton by the US.
This September, Trump was briefed by US intelligence on threats from Iran to assassinate him.
Posting on social media, he said there are “big threats on my life by Iran”, adding “moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again”.