President Donald Trump says he is approaching a major decision over whether to resume large-scale military attacks against Iran as the prolonged conflict enters what administration officials reportedly view as an increasingly unsustainable phase.
Trump revealed the potential turning point ahead of a planned meeting with six Persian Gulf leaders who could help shape whether the United States pursues renewed diplomacy or escalates military operations.
“I have a big decision coming up,” Trump told Axios before framing the choice as whether he wanted to “go in and annihilate” the Iranian regime or refrain from launching another major offensive.
“Anything could happen with me,” Trump added while declining to say whether he expects to determine the administration’s next move before or after the November midterm elections.
Trump is scheduled to meet Tuesday with leaders 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 president said he wants to learn where the Gulf governments stand and how they are managing the regional consequences of the conflict before choosing his next course.
Those nations could play an essential role in any renewed American military campaign because their territory, airspace, energy facilities and military installations could face Iranian retaliation.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar reportedly expressed concern in August that Iran could attack regional oil and natural-gas infrastructure if the United States resumed full-scale combat operations.
Trump subsequently held back from launching another major offensive while suspending negotiations with Tehran, expanding economic sanctions and continuing a naval blockade aimed at Iranian ports.
American forces have also concentrated on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and increasing the movement of oil and gas tankers through one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Traffic through the strait has increased under the American military effort but remains below prewar levels, contributing to continued pressure on international oil markets and fuel prices.
Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have ordered the military to maintain its current force levels in the Middle East through the end of the year, according to United States officials cited by Axios.
That positioning would allow the military to respond quickly if Trump authorizes renewed operations, although officials reportedly believe the current holding pattern cannot continue indefinitely without a clearly defined objective.
The president has repeatedly predicted that the conflict will end soon and said Iran remains in direct contact with the United States because its leaders still want an agreement.
Trump nevertheless indicated that military escalation remains an active option as his administration attempts to determine what would bring the conflict to a decisive conclusion.
The decision comes as American motorists confront sharply higher fuel costs that have become an increasingly serious political vulnerability for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.
AAA reported Friday that the national average for regular gasoline had reached approximately $4.47 per gallon, an increase of more than 17 cents from one week earlier.
The national diesel average climbed approximately 39 cents during the same period to nearly $6.45 per gallon, establishing a new record in AAA’s tracking.
The fuel increases have given Democrats another opportunity to challenge Trump and congressional Republicans over affordability as voters continue contending with the domestic economic consequences of the war.
Trump acknowledged the financial burden during a Wednesday campaign rally in North Carolina but described elevated gasoline costs as “a very inexpensive price to pay” for the broader military objective.
The president said prices could climb further in the short term but predicted they would eventually come “tumbling down” like “rocket ships in reverse,” Axios reported.
Administration officials must now weigh those domestic economic pressures against concerns that leaving the war in its current state could prolong regional instability without producing either a negotiated settlement or a definitive military outcome.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
