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US President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he has not yet decided whether to launch major military strikes against Iran, citing signs that Tehran is engaging seriously in ongoing bilateral talks.
Speaking to journalists in the Oval Office following high-level meetings with senior national security advisors, Trump emphasised that while the military remains “locked and loaded,” active diplomatic discussions offer a temporary window to negotiate.
He warned that Tehran must choose between reaching a diplomatic deal or facing an escalated level of bombardment as the conflict approaches its fifth month.
The current hostilities began nearly two weeks ago when the US launched airstrikes to prevent Iranian forces from closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iranian counterstrikes on US bases that killed four American service members.
Although earlier news reports indicated Trump was considering a massive military campaign, he reiterated that his ultimate red line remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capability.
The ongoing war continues to impact Trump’s public approval ratings ahead of the upcoming November midterm elections.
During the same briefing, Trump dismissed reports alleging that Moscow and Beijing are providing target intelligence to Iranian forces.
He publicly expressed trust in Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that both leaders personally pledged not to arm Tehran.
Trump added a stern warning that any foreign arms sales to Iran would yield severe economic and strategic consequences for those nations, while maintaining that US weapons sales remain strictly directed to NATO allies rather than directly to Ukraine.
