WASHINGTON, MAY 12: US President Donald Trump is considering resuming strikes against Iran after he called their recent proposal for a deal “stupid,” according to US officials.
Trump is expected to hold a high-level meeting with his national security team later Monday to discuss potential attack options following a weekslong ceasefire, which has seen attacks between the US and Iran halted for the most part.
The US military has struck Iranian military assets in recent days after saying Iran was threatening American ships.
The meeting Monday is expected to include Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Maro Rubio, Pentagon chief
Pete Hegseth, CIA chief John Ratclifee, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, according a report.
Axios, citing US officials, quoted one US official as saying Trump would “tune them up a bit.”
Two officials told Axios that Trump was leaning toward taking “some form of military action against Iran to increase pressure on the regime and force concessions on its nuclear program.”
Just last week, Trump expressed optimism about reaching a deal with Iran. But after their response to a proposal was delivered via Pakistani mediators, Trump said the ceasefire was now on “life support.”
Trump is scheduled to visit China after postponing his trip earlier in the year due to the Iran war. On Monday, he said he would be discussing the Iran war with China’s president.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said Iran’s so-called nuclear dust can only be retrieved by China or the US, because they are the only two countries who the capability to do so.
