President Donald Trump signaled Thursday that he is nearing a decision on whether to order additional military strikes against Iran, warning that Tehran would not be allowed to rebuild its nuclear weapons program while leaving the door open to a negotiated settlement.
‘Locked and Loaded’ or a Diplomatic Path?
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump suggested he would prefer to avoid further destruction but remained prepared to escalate. “I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I’ll have to,” he told reporters. “You’ll know soon enough.” The president emphasized U.S. military readiness, declaring forces are “very much locked and loaded” if further action becomes necessary.
His comments followed White House meetings with top national security advisors this week—their first substantive Iran discussions since Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to Axios. Senior administration officials separately confirmed to Fox News that options including large-scale strikes, continued sanctions pressure, and diplomatic solutions were under review.
GOP Election Losses Shape Debate
The deliberations occur just two days after Republicans suffered significant midterm losses, which Vice President JD Vance directly attributed to voter backlash over the Iran conflict’s economic impact. In a Wednesday statement, Vance blamed soaring gas prices—a consequence of the Hormuz Strait blockade and regional instability—for turning Trump’s 2024 supporters against GOP candidates.
Trump nevertheless defended the ongoing U.S.-Israeli campaign, insisting preventing a nuclear-armed Iran justified the political costs. He claimed American forces now effectively control key Iranian territory—”virtually an occupation”—and estimated the country could take 25 years to recover from wartime damage.
Diplomatic Moves Amid Threats
Even as Trump weighs military options, diplomatic efforts have accelerated behind the scenes. Qatar has emerged as the primary mediator in negotiations to reopen the Hormuz Strait and restart nuclear talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held multiple calls Thursday with counterparts from Gulf states, Turkey, and Egypt—part of what The New York Times described as Tehran’s new willingness to review concrete proposals after weeks of resistance.
While publicly maintaining hardline demands—including sanctions relief and compensation for war damages—Iranian officials reportedly submitted a nuclear proposal to the U.S. through Qatar on Thursday, per Reuters. Behind the scenes, key figures like security chief Mohsen Rezaei have shown unexpected flexibility, sources told the Times.
Breakthrough Proposal Circulates
Axios reported details of a Qatar-brokered two-day proposal that could break the deadlock: Washington would initially lift the naval blockade and release some frozen Iranian funds, while Tehran would invite IAEA inspectors to assess damaged nuclear sites. By day two, the Hormuz Strait would reopen, enabling formal talks on Iran’s uranium stockpile—the central sticking point.
Neither side has accepted the framework publicly, and Trump downplayed Iran’s leverage: “They’re not doing anything without our approval… They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.” Meanwhile, military preparations continue—the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group is en route to join two other carriers already positioned in the region.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/11/05/trump-decision-renewed-strikes-iran-coming-soon/