Trump Weighs Diplomacy or Renewed Iran Strikes Ahead of Gulf Leaders Meeting/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump said he is approaching a major decision over whether to resume large-scale attacks against Iran. He plans to consult six Gulf countries during the U.N. General Assembly as his administration considers diplomacy or renewed military action. U.S. officials say the current military posture cannot continue indefinitely, while high oil prices and upcoming elections complicate the decision.
Quick Look
- Trump said he is considering whether to restart large-scale attacks on Iran.
- No final decision or timeline has been announced.
- He will meet leaders from six Gulf countries Tuesday in New York.
- The countries are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
- Gulf governments could influence whether Washington pursues negotiations or escalation.
- Trump delayed renewed attacks in August after Saudi and Qatari concerns.
- The United States has continued sanctions, a naval blockade and military operations around the Strait of Hormuz.
- U.S. forces will remain at current Middle East levels through the end of 2026.
- Officials describe the current conflict as an unsustainable stalemate.
- The White House is also developing a regional strategy for after the war.
Deep Look
Trump says a major decision is approaching
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is nearing a consequential decision about whether the United States should resume large-scale military operations against Iran.
The president presented the choice as one between maintaining the current limited approach and launching a significantly expanded campaign aimed at ending the conflict.
“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 did not provide a timeline for deciding or specify the military operations under consideration.
The comments were made in an interview with Axios. They do not amount to an announcement that additional attacks have been authorized.
Gulf meeting could influence next phase
Trump’s remarks came before a planned meeting Tuesday with leaders from six Gulf countries on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
The participating countries are:
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
The meeting could help determine whether the United States makes another diplomatic effort or intensifies its military campaign.
Trump indicated that he wanted to hear directly from governments most exposed to the conflict’s security and economic consequences.
“I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them,” Trump said.
The planned discussions were also reported by Reuters.
Regional support could be essential
A return to large-scale combat could require political and operational support from Gulf allies.
Several participating countries host American military personnel, facilities or equipment. They also face the possibility of Iranian retaliation against military bases, energy infrastructure or shipping routes.
Gulf governments have experienced economic pressure from disruptions affecting oil and natural-gas exports since the war began.
Their concerns could shape the scale, timing and objectives of any further U.S. operation.
Trump declined to say whether he would decide on the next phase before or after the U.S. midterm elections in November.
Saudi and Qatari concerns delayed previous action
Trump considered resuming extensive attacks in early August but held back after Saudi Arabia and Qatar warned about possible Iranian retaliation.
Those governments were particularly concerned that Iran could attack Saudi oil and gas facilities, potentially causing additional disruption to global energy supplies.
Since then, the Trump administration has adopted what Axios described as a “low-key” approach to the war.
That strategy has included suspending negotiations with Tehran, expanding economic sanctionsmaintaining a naval blockade and concentrating military resources on the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States has also sought to increase the flow of oil through the strategically important waterway.
Oil traffic remains below prewar levels
The U.S. military has increased the number of oil and gas tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Traffic nevertheless remains below the levels recorded before the war. Oil prices have also stayed substantially higher because of uncertainty about production and transportation across the region.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes. Disruption can reduce available supplies and raise fuel costs internationally.
The economic consequences have created additional pressure on the administration to establish a clearer end point for the conflict.
High energy prices have also become a domestic political issue before the November midterm elections.
Military ordered to maintain regional force levels
Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have instructed the military to maintain its current force levels in the Middle East through the end of the year, according to U.S. officials cited by Axios.
The deployment is intended to preserve the United States’ ability to return rapidly to full-scale military operations if the president orders an escalation.
Officials said the current posture cannot be maintained indefinitely without a decision about the conflict’s long-term objective.
“At some point you have to decide what is the end game,” one of the officials said.
Some officials characterize the conflict as an unstable position between major war and peace. They believe Trump could resume extensive combat operations after the midterm elections if diplomacy fails to produce an agreement.
Those assessments represent officials’ expectations rather than an announced administration decision.
Trump praises impact of naval blockade
Trump said he was pleased with the results of the naval blockadeclaiming it had prevented Iran from exporting oil.
“Not one ship has gone to Iran since we started. They tried and we blew them up,” he said.
U.S. Central Command has publicly reported military operations involving Iranian tankers and other assets as part of the continuing conflict. Its Operation Epic Fury page documents U.S. military activity related to Iran.
The president also said Iranian officials remain in direct contact with Washington and still want to negotiate an agreement.
He did not provide details about the communications, the participants or the terms being discussed.
Trump has repeatedly predicted the war will end
Trump has said several times in recent days that he believes the war is approaching its conclusion.
He has made similar threats of expanded military action before without immediately following them with a major campaign.
That history makes it unclear whether the latest remarks signal an imminent escalation, an attempt to pressure Iran during negotiations or preparation for the Gulf meeting.
The president’s Tuesday discussions may provide additional information about regional governments’ willingness to support further military action or a renewed diplomatic initiative.
White House prepares postwar strategy
The White House is separately developing a plan for U.S. policy in the Middle East after the Iran war ends.
The preliminary strategy calls for regional cooperation to contain Iran while expanding diplomatic normalization between Israel and neighboring countries.
The administration intends the plan to guide its regional policy during the final two years of Trump’s term.
The proposal remains in an early drafting stage and could be affected by the outcome of the war, negotiations with Iran and the positions of Gulf governments.
Two elections are influencing the timetable: Israel’s election on Oct. 27 and the U.S. midterm elections in November.
Possible Netanyahu meeting remains uncertain
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to be in New York during the U.N. General Assembly.
Asked whether he intended to meet Netanyahu, Trump said, “I may.”
No formal meeting between the two leaders had been announced.
Israel’s position would be important to any decision involving expanded operations against Iran. The United States and Israel began the war through coordinated attacks in February, and both countries remain involved in the conflict.
For now, Trump’s immediate focus is the consultation with Gulf leaders, while the military remains positioned for either continued limited operations or a broader escalation.
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