US President Donald Trump has warned that a “big decision” is imminent regarding the trajectory of the war with Iran, floating the possibility of launching a massive military campaign to “annihilate” the ruling regime in Tehran.
Speaking in an interview with Axios, Trump emphasized that Washington stands at a major crossroads, stating, “Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.”
Consultation with regional allies
Trump revealed that his next move will heavily depend on talks with key regional partners. The US President is scheduled to meet with leaders and top diplomats from six Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
“I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them,” Trump noted, adding that he wants direct feedback from Gulf states before locking in a strategy.
Naval blockade and posture
While full-scale airstrikes were scaled back earlier following concerns over Iranian retaliation against Gulf energy infrastructure, the US military maintains a heavy deployment in the region.
Washington continues to enforce a strict naval blockade with Trump stating that forces have successfully intercepted or destroyed ships defying the enforcement.
US defense officials confirmed forces are ordered to stay at heightened readiness as diplomatic options remain on the table alongside full military intervention.
