'Matter of when, not if': US ready to hit Iran within 96 hours of Trump's nod

NEW: US is reportedly ready to strike Iran within 96 hours of a go-ahead from President Trump, with officials framing military action as a 'matter of when, not if'.

American forces are reportedly ready to strike Iran within 96 hours of a single order from President Trump.

That is the reporting tonight, and the framing from US officials is stark. They are describing military action against Iran as a matter of when, not if. Four days from a presidential go-ahead to bombs falling. The planning phase, in other words, appears to be over.

The Pentagon has not publicly confirmed a timeline, and no order has been given. But language like this does not leak by accident. It is pressure, aimed squarely at Tehran, and it narrows the space for anyone still talking about diplomacy. Days ago we reported Israel's own military chief pushing back on strike orders from his Prime Minister. Washington, on this reporting, has no such hesitation.

The decision now sits with one man. Everything after that is measured in hours, not weeks.

This is Liu Yang, reporting for HIT.