Given the stakes, and the potential risk to American personnel, the lack of a specific public rationale for any war with Iran seems surprising. “Well, there’s many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran,” Leavitt said, offering no specifics. Trump’s explanations extend only to repeated warnings that Iran will face the consequences if it doesn’t make a “deal” with the United States. Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu/Getty ImagesThe White House may not be telling Americans why it might be time to go to war with Iran. While officials said that forces would be positioned to strike Iran at the weekend, US action is not guaranteed.

Source: Egypt Independent February 19, 2026 12:19 UTC