President Donald Trump said Thursday he is weighing whether to restart large-scale U.S. strikes against Iran as the conflict drags on.
'I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me,' Trump told Axios.
Trump is expected Tuesday to meet leaders or senior officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The next phase of the conflict is expected to be a major topic.
The Gulf states have a direct stake in Washington’s next move. The source says Iran has repeatedly targeted countries across the region, striking U.S. bases and other military and civilian infrastructure, while Tehran has threatened retaliation against governments that support American operations.
Trump said the U.S. has kept pressure on Tehran through a widening sanctions campaign and a naval blockade aimed at cutting off the regime’s remaining revenue. 'Not one ship has gone to Iran since we started. They tried, and we blew them up,' he said.
U.S. forces have also helped commercial vessels move more than 900 million barrels of crude through the Strait of Hormuz since early May, according to CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins.
Why it matters: Washington is balancing deterrence, trade routes and the risk of a broader regional clash. The administration is keeping forces in place through the end of the year, but one U.S. official said the military cannot stay at that posture indefinitely without clarity on the end game.
The bottom line: Trump is keeping all options open. Gulf security, energy flows and U.S. power projection are now tied to one decision in the Oval Office.