Trump Weighs Renewed Military Action Against Iran as Peace Talks Continue
President Trump has reportedly discussed the possibility of resuming large-scale military operations against Iran but is continuing diplomatic negotiations for the time being as his administration pursues a long-term agreement over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Trump has held discussions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine about abandoning negotiations and authorizing additional military strikes against Iran. For now, however, the president reportedly believes diplomacy offers the best chance of permanently dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.
The current negotiations stem from a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 that created a 60-day window for both sides to negotiate a broader agreement addressing Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, frozen Iranian assets, and international sanctions.
“They’re agreeing to everything that I want, and they have to,” Trump told reporters last week. “Otherwise, we just go back and do what we have to do.”
The report indicated that Trump is willing to allow negotiations to continue beyond the Aug. 18 deadline if progress continues, while reserving the option of carrying out limited military strikes should Iran violate the agreement.
Hostilities between the United States and Iran paused earlier this week following several days of military exchanges involving incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that ongoing negotiations are intended to determine whether Iran is genuinely interested in a lasting peace agreement.
“They’ve got to not just say the right things, they’ve got to make real concessions,” Vance said during an appearance on Fox News. “We care a lot less about what the Iranians say, we care a lot more about what they do.”
Vance acknowledged that negotiators have seen both encouraging and concerning signs during the discussions.
“What the president has told us is, work the problem, see where the negotiation is going to lead, and if it doesn’t lead to a successful resolution on the diplomatic side, we still have a lot of optionality and we’ve still accomplished a whole lot for the American people,” he said.
The United States delegation in Qatar is being led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Iran’s delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.
Regional officials familiar with the discussions said disputes surrounding the future status of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing tensions involving Hezbollah in Lebanon remain major obstacles to a final agreement.
One major sticking point involves Iran’s insistence that it retain authority over shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and eventually collect transit fees from vessels using the waterway. The United States and several Gulf Arab nations have rejected that proposal.
Qatar confirmed meetings involving American, Iranian and Qatari officials on Wednesday, with all sides emphasizing continued efforts to pursue regional stability through diplomacy.
Pakistani mediators also participated in the discussions as negotiations continue.