Donald Trump is reportedly ‘leaning towards’ expanding the war on Iran, with the ceasefire in tatters and both sides launching missile attacks in recent days
Donald Trump is reportedly “leaning towards” expanding the war on Iran after meeting with his top national security team – and could potentially deploy ground troops.
Missiles have been launched by the United States and Iran over the past few days after the Trump said the fragile ceasefire with Iran was over last week as he lashed out at its leaders – calling them “scum”.
A naval blockade was imposed on Iran today and airstrikes have intensified in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The American strikes hit an Iranian army barracks, killed at least seven troops and wounded more than 260 people across the country, Iranian officials said.
And now US officials have said Trump is “leaning towards” more extensive attacks rather than looking for peace after briefings from top aides, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Several options are reportedly on the table including greater airstrikes, sending ground forces to take islands by the Strait of Hormuz and bombing a fortified site that is suspected of being used for covert nuclear work.
Trump is said to have held a meeting at the situation room in the White House where these possibilities were considered, including the potential bombing of the tunnel complex at Pickaxe Mountain – a nuclear-linked site the US is yet to target.
His vice president JD Vance was there, as were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House envoy Steve Witkoff and other senior officials, it is alleged.
It is also reported that Trump hasn’t made a final decision on next steps to take in the conflict.
The US military said it launched two airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday, targeting Iran’s ability to stop shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. “We’ll find out whether or not we settle with them, or we just finish it off,” Trump said afterwards.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened today to halt all energy exports from the Middle East over the blockade. “The export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one,” it said.
While Trump also told Fox News that the US would hit Iran “hard” over the coming three days – and that there would be even wider strikes after that.
“Next week, it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants,” Trump said. “Next week comes the bridges. We’re gonna knock out all their power plants. We’re gonna knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.”
Already days of back-and-forth strikes by the US and Iran across the Middle East – and renewed threats to the waterway crucial to global energy supplies – have shredded the interim deal to end the conflict.
The US first imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in April and then lifted it last month after signing the interim deal that paused the fighting, and set a 60-day period for negotiations over issues such as Iran’s nuclear program. Those talks have stalled as fighting over the Strait of Hormuz has intensified.
