'Do I want to annihilate them?' Trump weighs next phase of Iran war
President Donald Trump has publicly weighed the possibility of launching major military attacks against Iran, citing the ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The administration is currently managing a naval blockade aimed at restricting Iranian oil exports, which has led to increased regional friction.
Why it matters
The rhetoric regarding potential military escalation in the Middle East has significant implications for global oil markets and regional stability.
US President Donald Trump has once again raised the possibility of resuming a large-scale attack on Iran. His repeated warning comes as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps keeps the Strait of Hormuz heavily in its control and continues to restrict passage to vessels.In an interview with Axios Trump said that he was approaching a critical decision over the next phase of the Iran war, including whether to launch another round of major attacks.“I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not?” Trump said. “It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.”Trump’s remarks, however, were not a new threat to destroy Iran. He has made similar threats repeatedly since the conflict began, including warnings of attacks on Iran’s power infrastructure and other vital facilities.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in