Axios: Trump faces decision on whether to resume major attacks on Iran

US President Donald Trump has said he faces a major decision over whether to resume large-scale military operations against Iran, as Washington prepares for a meeting with the leaders of six Gulf countries in New York.

In an interview with Axios on September 17, Trump said he was approaching a critical juncture in the conflict and would have to decide whether to launch renewed attacks against the Iranian regime.

“I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me,” Trump said.

Trump’s remarks come ahead of a planned meeting with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The meeting could influence the next phase of the conflict, including whether Washington makes another attempt to pursue diplomacy or moves towards intensified military action.

According to US officials cited by Axios, Trump and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have ordered the US military to maintain its current force posture in the Middle East through the end of the year, allowing it to remain prepared for a possible return to full-scale combat.

US officials have warned that the conflict has settled into an unsustainable stalemate between war and peace. One official told Axios that Washington would eventually have to determine “what is the endgame”.

Trump said he wanted to use the upcoming meeting in New York to hear directly from regional allies about the conflict and its possible next steps.

“I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them,” he said.

The US president declined to say whether he would make a decision on the future course of the conflict before or after the November midterm elections.

US holds off on major offensive

Trump previously held off on resuming major combat operations after Saudi Arabia and Qatar expressed concern that Iran could retaliate by targeting oil and gas facilities in the Gulf.

Since then, Washington has pursued a more limited approach, including suspending negotiations with Iran, imposing additional economic sanctions and maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The US military has also focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies, and increasing the flow of oil to international markets.

According to Axios, US forces have significantly increased oil and gas tanker traffic through the strait, although shipping remains below pre-war levels and oil prices remain elevated.

Trump told Axios that he was satisfied with the naval blockade and claimed that Iran had been prevented from exporting its oil.

“Not one ship has gone to Iran since we started. They tried and we blew them up,” he said.

Trump also said that Iran remained in direct contact with the United States and that Tehran continued to seek a deal.

Washington develops post-war strategy

At the same time, the White House is working on a broader strategy for the Middle East after the conflict.

The plan, which remains in the early stages of development, reportedly envisages a regional effort to contain Iran while expanding the normalisation of relations between Israel and its neighbours.

The strategy is intended to shape US policy in the Middle East through the final two years of Trump’s presidency.

Two major political developments are expected to factor into Washington’s planning: Israel’s October 27 election and the US midterm elections in November.

Asked whether he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York next week, Trump replied: “I may.”