Trump weighs resuming ‘all-out war’ on Iran, chooses diplomacy ‘for now’: Report
Washington has attacked Iran repeatedly since the MoU was reached, prompting Tehran to strike US assets across the Gulf
US President Donald Trump has considered resuming “all-out war” against Iran and has been briefed on multiple “options,” but is opting to stick to negotiations “for now,” according to sources who spoke with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on 30 June.
According to US officials informed on the discussions, “conversations have centered on whether the US should abandon negotiations and resume full-scale attacks on Iran.”
The officials described this option as “finishing the job” against the Islamic Republic.
“Trump has told aides he believes another round of full-scale attacks could derail diplomacy and hurt Washington’s chances of ultimately dismantling Iran’s nuclear program,” the report added.
The report also states that Trump told his aides he would accept talks extending beyond 18 August, the date by which a final agreement is due under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) reached in June.
The president said he is “currently satisfied” with “one-off strikes” on Iran when it “violates” the MoU.
The US military has carried out several violations in recent weeks, bombarding southern Iran repeatedly.
Iranian forces have responded with multiple drone and missile operations targeting US assets in the Gulf.
Trump “is looking for ways to break the deadlock with Tehran and hasn’t yet ruled out a return to fighting,” the report said.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine have given the president options for attacks on Iranian military sites, according to WSJ.
Washington’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law and unofficial advisor, Jared Kushner, traveled to Qatar this week for talks.
Iranian officials went to Doha for separate discussions with Qatari officials but did not engage in negotiations with Washington.
“The first round of technical talks within the designated working groups will be held once conditions are met and after agreement is reached on the date and venue,” said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.
Washington accepted the inclusion of practically all of Iran’s demands in the MoU, including a full halt to war in Lebanon, asset releases, sanctions removal, and a lifting of the illegal blockade.
A 60-day period consisting of several rounds of talks – aimed at hammering out details – was scheduled to commence.
Yet Washington continued to violate the MoU through its blockade, multiple attacks on Iran, and a failure to rein in Israel’s brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing and occupation in Lebanon.
The first 30 days of talks were meant to facilitate a gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade. Washington’s attacks and threats, as well as Israel’s behavior in Lebanon, have hindered the process.
Early on 28 June, Iran carried out its latest retaliatory strikes in response to new US attacks on the Islamic Republic.
Tehran said it targeted eight US military installations at Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, following Washington’s attack on telecommunication infrastructure on the southern Iranian coast.
Trump boasted about the attacks on Truth Social over the weekend, while renewing the threat of force against Iran – in violation of the MoU.
The president said that Tehran may “never learn,” and that if the US is forced to “militarily complete the job … the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist.”