Donald Trump has revealed he is seriously contemplating reinitiating major combat operations in Iran. News outlet Axios quoted the US president as considering a "massive attack" that would be "bigger than ever before" and that he was "close to making a decision".
Trump's comments on Iran negotiations
Trump claimed the Iranians "want to negotiate", as per the news site, but they were not prepared to strike a deal at this moment. "They haven't received enough pain yet," he reportedly stated.
His comments coincide with a surge of US military presence in the Middle East, with additional US Special Forces and extra squadrons of fighter jets being deployed to the region.
Axios report on military plans
"I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," Axios reported the president as saying. The publication mentioned that it had learned from military sources that no final decisions have been made and no new orders have been issued to US armed forces.
The Iranians "want to negotiate," Trump reportedly maintained, but he added that the reason they were not yet ready to make a deal was that "They haven't received enough pain yet".
Houthi attacks and oil prices
In the meantime, The Houthis, an armed Islamist group aligned with Iran, attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea last night (Wednesday) after declaring a blockade of the Bab al Mandeb Strait on Tuesday. These recent attacks have caused oil prices to skyrocket, with oil exceeding $100 a barrel for the first time since May.
The Houthis declared a blockade of the Bab al Mandeb strait on Tuesday. The strait, situated at the southern gateway to the Red Sea, serves as a bottleneck for oil tankers and cargo ships transporting goods globally.
