Trump weighs resuming war, says if need be, he will have to destroy rest of Iran

Donald Trump met his national security team to consider renewed military operations against Iran. CENTCOM preparations and regional mediation leave both military and diplomatic options open.

US President Donald Trump met with his national security team on Thursday to discuss the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran, as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stepped up preparations for a potential new wave of strikes.

However, Washington has not yet issued any formal directive to restart major combat operations.

According to US officials cited by Fox News, key meetings on Iran were held at the White House on Wednesday and Thursday. The Thursday meeting, which took place during Trump's weekly intelligence briefing, was the first discussion involving the President and his top national security advisers on Iran since the US midterm elections.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Washington would soon decide whether to launch further attacks on Iran's nuclear programme.

"Now we will make a decision. Do we want to go further" with strikes to ensure that Iran's nuclear programme is dismantled and "it will never happen again?" he said.

"I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I will have to. You'll know soon enough," Trump added.

According to an Axios report, the administration is weighing three broad options: launching fresh military strikes, continuing economic pressure on Tehran through sanctions and other restrictions, or reaching a diplomatic agreement involving significant concessions from Iran.

US MILITARY PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE FRESH STRIKES

CENTCOM is finalising preparations for a possible resumption of major combat operations in Iran, a US official told reporters. However, the command has not received fresh instructions from Washington to begin military action.

Fox News also reported that November 9 would bring a new moon in the Middle East, creating conditions with little or no moonlight. Such conditions can be advantageous for certain military operations.

Another possible indicator of renewed US military action could be the arrival of a third American aircraft carrier strike group in the region. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group are scheduled to spend a few days in Singapore from Friday for a port visit. A US official said the group was not expected to reach CENTCOM's area of responsibility before mid-November.

The Pentagon's FORTRESS initiative, announced on October 29, aims to ensure US military bases can operate independently for up to 90 days during major conflicts by securing essential supplies, power and infrastructure.

Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has urged American families to maintain at least three days' worth of food, water and emergency supplies to prepare for potential disruptions.

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE AMID MILITARY BUILD-UP

Even as military preparations continue, diplomatic efforts involving regional powers have intensified. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held multiple phone calls on Thursday with regional mediators from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Egypt.

Qatari mediators are also holding discussions with Tehran and the White House over a draft proposal aimed at building confidence between the two sides and creating conditions for a broader agreement.

According to regional sources, the proposed arrangement would involve a series of steps over two days. On the first day, Washington would lift its naval blockade and release some of Iran's frozen funds. In return, Tehran would formally invite the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to send inspectors to nuclear sites that were bombed.

On the second day, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, paving the way for the resumption of nuclear negotiations, including discussions on Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

However, Iran has also maintained a firm position on negotiations. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday and discussed the conflict.

Rezaei said he had conveyed a message from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to Putin.

He also said Tehran had presented seven conditions to Washington and would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz or resume negotiations until they were met.

Although Iran has not officially disclosed its list of conditions, a report by Khaleej Times suggests Tehran is seeking a complete end to hostilities, including in Lebanon; the lifting of the US naval blockade and sanctions; the release of frozen Iranian assets; a reduction in the US military presence in the region; compensation for war-related damages; and a guarantee against further US strikes on Iranian territory.

Washington, meanwhile, has maintained that nuclear issues must be included in any initial negotiations.

IRAQ OPPOSES USE OF ITS TERRITORY FOR STRIKES

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi spoke to Trump over the phone on Thursday and reiterated Baghdad's opposition to the use of Iraqi territory for military operations against neighbouring countries.

A statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office said Al-Zaidi had called for respect for state sovereignty and stressed that Iraqi territory must not be used as a launchpad for aggression against neighbouring nations.

With Trump yet to announce his decision, the US administration faces a choice between renewed military action, continued economic pressure and a possible diplomatic agreement. CENTCOM's preparations and ongoing regional negotiations indicate that both military and diplomatic options remain under consideration.