Bloomberg Television
Is the US About to Attack Iran?
Dina Esfandiary, Middle East Geoeconomics Lead for Bloomberg Economics, examines the US military buildup in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump’s warning to Iran — that it has just 10 to 15 days to avert potential military action — suggests matters could come to a head when the United Nations nuclear watchdog next meets to decide whether to further censure the Islamic Republic.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board is scheduled to hold a five-day meeting in Vienna starting on March 2, or 10 days from now. Diplomats are expected to weigh a new resolution censuring Iran for its nuclear program and could refer it to the UN Security Council for further action.
While both the US and Iran have said they are working toward a diplomatic solution, that sets up a potential repeat of the timetable that played out in June, when Israel began strikes within 24 hours of the IAEA board’s decision to censure Iran over its lack of cooperation with monitors. That finding was cited by US officials, who at the time suggested it provided the legal justification for military intervention.
“It potentially gives the administration the hook it needs to attack Iran in an attempt to affect regime change,” said Tariq Rauf, the former head of nuclear-verification policy at the IAEA.
As the US amasses forces in the Middle East for a potential attack against Iran, Trump told reporters Thursday that “we’re either going to get a deal, or it’s going to be unfortunate for them.”
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Published Feb 20, 2026
