preCharge News BUSINESS — President Donald Trump is considering whether to launch a military strike against Iran as he demands the country’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “surrender” in Tehran’s conflict with Israel, current and former administration officials told preCharge News on Tuesday.

A strike by the United States is one option among a range that Trump is weighing after meeting with his top national security advisors in the Situation Room on Tuesday afternoon, the officials told NBC.

The meeting came hours after Trump warned Khamenei that the U.S. knows “exactly” where he is “hiding.”

Trump Issues Sharp Warnings on Truth Social

“Our patience is wearing thin,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“He is an easy target, but is safe there — We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” Trump wrote shortly after declaring “total control” over Iran’s airspace.

“But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers,” he wrote.

Trump in a subsequent post made clear what he does want from Iran: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”

U.S. Threatens Direct Military Role

The Trump administration has insisted that the U.S. is not directly involved in what Israel called a preemptive strike against Iran on Friday, which kicked off five days of missile fire between the two regional powers.

But Trump’s latest comments suggest the U.S. is now at least willing to threaten direct military intervention as it backs Israel’s effort to bring Tehran to heel.

Vetoed Assassination Plan Surfaces

The U.S. president’s threat against Khamenei came two days after news outlets reported that Trump had vetoed a plan by Israel to assassinate the ayatollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday downplayed his reported disagreement with Trump over Khamenei, saying, “I wouldn’t rush to conclusions.”

White House Silent on Bunker Buster Report

The New York Times reported Monday that Trump is weighing whether to help Israel destroy Iran’s underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordo, which could only be accomplished with the U.S.’ biggest “bunker buster” bomb.

The White House did not immediately respond to preCharge News’ request for comment on that report or on other questions about the latest developments in the Israel-Iran conflict.

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Associated Press, CNBC News, Fox News, and preCharge News contributed to this report.