Trump considers strike on Iran as MAGA camp warns against another middle east war
Washington D.C.: Senior U.S. officials are actively preparing for a possible military strike on Iran, indicating a potential escalation in Washington’s involvement in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. According to sources familiar with internal deliberations, discussions are underway across key federal agencies, with some suggesting that a strike could occur as early as the coming weekend.
President Donald Trump, in recent public remarks, hinted at military action. “I may do it. I may not do it,” he said at the White House on Wednesday, adding that he prefers to make such decisions “one second before it’s due.” He also noted, “I have ideas as to what to do,” underscoring the high-stakes nature of the current standoff.
This marks a significant departure from Trump’s previous approach, which emphasised diplomacy and a nuclear agreement with Iran. However, amid rising concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, his stance has become markedly more hawkish. A senior U.S. official confirmed that “all options remain on the table.”
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy, posting on social media that Iran “had never sought and would never seek nuclear weapons.” Upcoming nuclear talks between Iran and foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany are scheduled for Friday in Geneva, offering a potential path to de-escalation.
Despite international calls for restraint, some voices in Washington are pressing for action. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, argued, “He gave them a chance for diplomacy. I think they made a miscalculation. The sooner we end this threat to mankind, the better.”
However, Trump’s shift toward potential military engagement has sparked significant backlash within his own MAGA base. Influential figures such as Steve Bannon and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have publicly criticised any move toward another Middle Eastern war.
“We can’t do this again,” Bannon said, recalling the toll of previous conflicts like Iraq. “We’ll tear the country apart.” He urged caution, warning that military decisions must have the support of the American public. “This is not something you play around with,” he added.
Greene echoed these sentiments, posting, “Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel-Iran war is not America First/MAGA. We are sick and tired of foreign wars. All of them.”
Even conservative commentator Tucker Carlson expressed strong opposition, confronting Senator Ted Cruz in a widely circulated exchange. Carlson accused Cruz of irresponsibly pushing for regime change in Iran, stating, “You don’t know anything about Iran!”
Amid the growing rift within the Republican Party, Vice President JD Vance attempted to strike a balance, acknowledging public anxiety over foreign entanglements. “People are right to be worried after 25 years of idiotic foreign policy. But I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue,” Vance said.
Responding to the criticism, Trump maintained that his actions are rooted in national security concerns. “My supporters are more in love with me today, and I’m in love with them more than they were even at election time,” he said. Acknowledging the dissatisfaction among parts of his base, he insisted, “I’m not looking to fight. But if it’s a choice between them fighting or having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.”
The coming days may prove decisive as the United States weighs diplomacy against the prospect of open conflict in the Middle East.
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Cong takes swipe at PM over India not being part of US-led 'Pax Silica' grouping
New Delh (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said it is perhaps not very surprising that India is not part of a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure silicon supply chain, given the "sharp downturn" in the Trump-Modi ties, and asserted that it would have been to "our advantage if we had been part of this group".
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the news of India not being part of the group comes after the PM had enthusiastically posted on social media about a telephone call with his "once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC".
In a lengthy post on X, Ramesh said, "According to some news reports, the US has excluded India from a nine-nation initiative it has launched to reduce Chinese control on high-tech supply chains. The agreement is called Pax Silica, clearly as a counter to Pax Sinica. The nations included (for the moment at least) are the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia."
"Given the sharp downturn in the Trump-Modi ties since May 10th, 2025, it is perhaps not very surprising that India has not been included. Undoubtedly, it would have been to our advantage if we had been part of this group."
"This news comes a day after the PM had enthusiastically posted on his telephone call with his once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC," the Congress leader asserted.
The new US-led strategic initiative, rooted in deep cooperation with trusted allies, has been launched to build a secure and innovation-driven silicon supply chain.
According to the US State Department, the initiative called 'Pax Silica' aims to reduce coercive dependencies, protect the materials and capabilities foundational to artificial intelligence (AI), and ensure aligned nations can develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale.
The initiative includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. With the exception of India, all other QUAD countries -- Japan, Australia and the US -- are part of the new initiative.
New Delhi will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19-20, focusing on the principles of 'People, Planet, and Progress'. The summit, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit, will be the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump on Thursday discussed ways to sustain momentum in the bilateral economic partnership in a phone conversation amid signs of the two sides inching closer to firming up a much-awaited trade deal.
The phone call between the two leaders came on a day Indian and American negotiators concluded two-day talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement that is expected to provide relief to India from the Trump administration's whopping 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
In a social media post, Modi had described the conversation as "warm and engaging".
"We reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments. India and the US will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity," Modi had said without making any reference to trade ties.
