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. US officials say Trump is considering more extensive attacks after briefings from top aides, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Potential Ground Deployment and Airstrikes
Several options are on the table, including greater airstrikes, sending ground forces to take islands by the Strait of Hormuz, and bombing a fortified site suspected of covert nuclear work. Trump held a meeting in the White House situation room with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and envoy Steve Witkoff.
A naval blockade was imposed on Iran today, and airstrikes have intensified in retaliation for Tehran's attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. American strikes hit an Iranian army barracks, killing at least seven troops and wounding more than 260 people across the country, Iranian officials said.
Escalation and Threats
The US military launched two airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday, targeting its 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 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.
Trump told Fox News that the US would hit Iran 'hard' over the coming three days, with wider strikes after that. 'Next week, it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. 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,' Trump said.
Ceasefire Collapse
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 lifted it last month after signing an interim deal that paused 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.
Trump has not made a final decision on next steps, but he is reportedly 'leaning towards' expansion rather than peace.
