President Donald Trump has discussed the possibility of resuming full-scale war with Iran, but has decided to continue pursuing diplomatic channels for now. The deliberations involved discussions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.
Despite considering additional strikes against the Islamic Republic, Trump has reportedly concluded that negotiations are the most effective path to ensuring Iran dismantles its nuclear weapons program. These diplomatic efforts are formalized under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on June 17. This agreement provides a 60-day window for the U.S. and Iran to finalize a peace deal. The deal aims to resolve key issues including the status of Tehran’s enriched uranium, billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, and the lifting of U.S. and international sanctions.
"They’re agreeing to everything that I want, and they have to," Trump told reporters recently when asked about the ongoing negotiations. "Otherwise, we just go back and do what we have to do."
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump has indicated a willingness to allow the talks to extend beyond the 60-day period, which concludes on August 18. However, he has also stated that he remains prepared to order targeted strikes if Iran is deemed to have violated the terms of the MOU.