US President Donald Trump has said he must soon decide whether to launch major new attacks against Iran, despite claiming just a day earlier that the conflict could end quickly.
In an interview with Axios on Thursday, Trump described the war as being at a critical juncture and said he was weighing whether to resume a large-scale military offensive.
The remarks come ahead of a planned meeting with six Gulf leaders at the United Nations in New York, where discussions could influence the next phase of the conflict.
Speaking to Axios, Trump said he was approaching a decisive point in the conflict and had yet to determine whether the United States would resume major attacks against Iran.
“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 said.
The president’s latest comments reflect a shift from his recent statements that the war would end soon. He has repeatedly suggested in recent days that hostilities could conclude quickly, but his latest remarks indicate that the possibility of renewed military action remains open.
Trump said all options were available and that the United States would soon have to determine its next course of action.
Gulf leaders to discuss next phase of war
Trump’s comments come ahead of a planned meeting on Tuesday with leaders from six Gulf countries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The leaders expected to participate represent Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
Trump said he wanted to hear directly from regional leaders before deciding how to proceed with the conflict.
“I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them,” he said.
The president added that the United States had done a great deal to protect its Gulf allies and that he wanted to understand their position on the next stage of the war.
The meeting could shape discussions over whether Washington should pursue another diplomatic initiative or intensify military operations. If Trump decides to resume major combat operations, he would need the support of regional allies, according to Axios.
Trump declined to say whether he would make the decision before or after the US midterm elections.
US naval blockade has hit Iran’s oil exports
Trump also claimed that the US naval blockade had severely affected Iran’s ability to export oil, saying he was satisfied with the impact of the operation.
“Not one ship has gone to Iran since we started. They tried and we blew them up,” Trump told Axios, referring to the blockade and attempts to prevent Iranian oil shipments.
The president said the blockade had significantly reduced Iran’s oil-export capacity and maintained that the operation had helped increase pressure on Tehran.
Since early August, Trump has taken what Axios described as a “low-key” approach to the conflict after holding off on the resumption of major combat operations.
His administration has suspended negotiations with Iran, launched a new economic sanctions campaign and continued a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Washington has also focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and increasing the flow of oil into global energy markets.
The US military has significantly increased the movement of oil and gas tankers through the strategic waterway. However, shipping traffic remains below pre-war levels, while oil prices continue to remain elevated.
Why Trump held back from renewed military action
In early August, Trump refrained from restarting major combat operations after Saudi Arabia and Qatar expressed concerns that Iran could retaliate by targeting their oil and gas infrastructure.
Since then, Washington has maintained economic and military pressure on Tehran while seeking ways to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US officials have warned that the conflict has settled into an unsustainable stalemate, with neither a full-scale war nor a lasting peace agreement in place. Some officials believe Trump could return to major combat operations after the midterm elections if an agreement with Iran is not reached by then.
US military to remain in Middle East
Trump and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have ordered the military to maintain its current level of forces in the Middle East until the end of the year, according to US officials cited by Axios.
The deployment is intended to ensure that American forces remain prepared for a potential return to full-scale combat if the president decides to escalate the conflict.
Officials said Trump needs to decide on a long-term strategy soon because the US military cannot remain in its current holding pattern indefinitely.
“At some point, you have to decide what is the endgame,” one US official said.
The continued deployment underscores the uncertainty surrounding Washington’s next move as the conflict enters a critical phase.
Iran remains in contact with US
Trump also claimed that Iranian officials were in direct contact with the US and continued to seek an agreement to end the conflict.
“Iran is in direct contact with the US and wants to reach an agreement,” the president said.
He did not provide specific details about the nature of the contacts or identify the Iranian officials involved.
The claim comes amid stalled negotiations and continued disagreements between Washington and Tehran over the terms of a potential settlement.
White House develops post-war strategy
Alongside its military and diplomatic efforts, the White House has been working on a broader strategy for the Middle East after the Iran war ends.
According to Axios, the emerging plan calls for a regional effort to contain Iran while expanding the normalisation of relations between Israel and its neighbouring countries.
The strategy remains in the early stages of drafting and is intended to guide Washington’s approach to the region during the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
Two major developments are expected to influence the planning: Israel’s October 27 election and the US midterm elections in November.
The administration’s post-war proposals are being developed as Washington weighs the future of its military presence in the region and efforts to reshape regional security arrangements.
Trump may meet Netanyahu in New York
Trump was also asked whether he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York during the upcoming UN General Assembly.
The US president responded, “I may,” without confirming whether a meeting had been scheduled.
The possibility of discussions with Netanyahu comes as Washington considers the next phase of its approach to Iran and the broader Middle East crisis.
