As U.S. President Donald Trump considers launching military strikes against Iran, the U.S. administration is keeping the legal basis for any potential action deliberately open-ended—subject to interpretation and not definitively settled.
A senior official at the U.S. State Department told Alhurra that although there is no explicit authorization from Congress, “all options remain on the table,” including adopting a counterterrorism framework to justify a strike—similar to the legal rationale used in the 2020 operation that targeted former commander of Iran’s Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani.
Behind the scenes, the focus of Israeli and Saudi officials in Washington has been less on whether a strike will occur and more on the nature of the potential targets.
“A U.S. member of the House of Representatives told Alhurra: ‘Targets determine everything—the scale, the method, and the justification.’”
European intelligence sources say Saudi officials are seeking clarity on the scope of any potential strike, fully aware that they would be unable to alter Trump’s decision should he choose to act. At the same time, Israel is providing the U.S. administration with detailed intelligence to help shape the military course of action.
The result is a familiar pattern: legal ambiguity, framing within a counterterrorism context, and preparations that would allow the White House to move forward without a congressional vote if a decision is made.
Trump has warned Iran that it would face far harsher U.S. measures than before if it does not return to negotiations over its nuclear program, while Tehran has vowed to retaliate against the United States, Israel, and their allies.
Trump also said the United States has a “fleet” heading toward Iran, though he added that he hopes it will not be used.
Israel’s chief of the general staff said last week that the military is prepared for a range of scenarios and is continuously working to enhance its capabilities.
During a visit to Turkey, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran is ready to resume talks with the United States, but that negotiations must be fair and must not include Iran’s defensive capabilities.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters last week that one of Washington’s key demands for restarting talks is curbing Iran’s missile program—an issue Tehran rejects.
U.S.-allied regional powers, including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, are engaging in diplomatic efforts to prevent any military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The article is a translation of the original Arabic.
