Donald Trump says decision on ‘massive attack’ against Iran is close. Bigger than ever before.’ Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/APUS-Israel war on IranDonald Trump says decision on ‘massive attack’ against Iran is closePresident’s remarks follow Houthi strikes on Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and oil prices rising past $100 a barrel again.
Donald Trump has said he is close to deciding whether to launch “a massive attack” against Iran, on a scale larger than strikes already witnessed during the months-long conflict with Tehran.
Details
Available information indicates that Bigger than ever before.’ Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP View image in fullscreen Donald Trump said: ‘I am considering a massive attack.
Trump has been escalating his rhetoric against Iran in recent days, hinting the US is prepared to bomb an underground tunnel complex at the “Pickaxe mountain” site where Israel alleges Tehran has hidden centrifuges used in uranium enrichment.
As Trump has struggled to get a grip on the spiralling crisis, during which Iran has occasionally launched lethal strikes against US bases and Washington’s Gulf allies, he appears to have been sucked into an “escalation trap”, threatening ever more violent retaliation.
With Trump’s poll ratings in freefall, and his war against Iran deeply unpopular at home, the president and his administration are running short of time before the autumn midterm elections to find a resolution to the conflict on Washington’s terms.
Donald Trump said: ‘I am considering a massive attack, according to the latest reporting on the story.
Trump’s comments followed the earlier threat of “major military punishment” against Iran and the Houthis, after the Iran-backed Yemeni militia’s attacks on two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea.
Trump wrote on social media: “If [the Houthis] do this again, the US will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves.”.
Underlining Trump’s growing political problems, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed a resolution on Thursday to halt US military action in Iran, the second such warning to the president.
Statements
«I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it.»
Context
Speaking to the Axios news site, the US president said: “I am considering a massive attack.
On Wednesday, Trump said the US would destroy one bridge or power plant every time Iran shot at a ship in the strait, according to the latest reporting on the story.
The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said Trump was seeking a “head for an eye” after the recent deaths of several US service members in an Iranian strike on the Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan.
Trump vows to bomb Iran's bridges and power plants for each ship attack AxiosJuly 22, 2026 — Trump attends dignified transfer of soldiers, US and Iran trade threats.
Trump vows to bomb Iran's bridges, power plants if it shoots at ships in Hormuz Strait CNBC.
Will Bomb Iran’s Power Plants, Bridges if Tehran Strikes Ships WSJTrump threatens to target Iran's bridges and power plants if Hormuz attacks persist, according to the latest reporting on the story.
