LAHORE MIRROR – US President Donald Trump says he will soon decide whether to resume full-scale military operations against Iran or pursue a diplomatic agreement, following a meeting with his national security advisers.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump suggested that further military action remained an option, although he indicated a preference to avoid additional destruction in Iran.
“Now we will make a decision. Do we want to go further? I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I will have to. You’ll know soon enough,” Trump said.
His remarks come amid growing uncertainty over the future of the US-Iran conflict following the Republican Party’s setbacks in Tuesday’s midterm elections. The election results have raised questions about the domestic political costs of the war and created a possible opening for diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
Trump reportedly has three main options: maintain economic pressure and sanctions against Tehran, resume military strikes or negotiate an agreement with the Iranian government.
According to Axios, citing two US officials, Trump met his national security team for discussions on Iran for the first time since the midterm elections. The meeting was part of his regular intelligence briefing.
Fox News reported that discussions took place at the White House on Wednesday and Thursday as US Central Command continued preparations for a possible military operation. However, no order to resume military action had been issued, and officials were still considering the administration’s next steps.
Iran Sees Political Opportunity After Midterm Results
Tehran has portrayed the Republican losses as evidence of growing American opposition to Trump’s military policy. Iranian officials have argued that the economic consequences of the conflict, rising living costs and US support for Israel have contributed to public dissatisfaction.
In a lengthy post on X, Vice President JD Vance also acknowledged that frustration over the conflict, the cost of living and US support for Israel had influenced voters who turned away from Republican candidates.
Despite the political setback, Washington has not ruled out further military action. Meanwhile, Iran has continued to issue warnings that any renewed attacks could trigger a wider regional confrontation.
Regional Diplomacy Intensifies
Alongside the military preparations, diplomatic efforts have gathered pace. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate telephone conversations on Thursday with his counterparts in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.
The discussions focused on regional developments and efforts to prevent further escalation.
Qatar has also continued mediation between Washington and Tehran. According to Reuters, a senior Iranian official said Tehran had submitted a nuclear proposal to the United States through Qatar.
The official said the proposal would be discussed once Washington addressed Iran’s seven conditions. He added that the United States was reviewing the document but did not disclose further details.
Iran Sets Conditions for Negotiations
Iranian senior security official Mohsen Rezaei reiterated Tehran’s position during a visit to Russia on Thursday, saying negotiations would remain off the table until Washington met its demands.
“On the issue of diplomacy, we have announced seven conditions to the Americans. As long as they do not execute our seven conditions, we will neither open the Strait of Hormuz nor have negotiations,” Rezaei said.
Iran’s demands reportedly include the lifting of US sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets and war reparations. Tehran has also insisted that its conditions must be addressed before negotiations can move forward.
Washington, however, has maintained that Iran’s nuclear programme must form part of any initial negotiations.
During his visit to Moscow, Rezaei also met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. He said he had delivered a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, to the Russian president.
Rezaei added that Putin was prepared to help bring the conflict to an end.
With military preparations continuing and regional powers stepping up diplomatic contacts, Trump’s next decision could determine whether the confrontation moves towards renewed military action or a negotiated settlement.
