Trump: Iran Deal or Strike Decision Coming Soon
Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran Sunday as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia continue and energy prices remain high.
By Layla Petrov ·
President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is deciding whether to negotiate a deal with Iran or launch a final military strike. The declaration comes as investors monitor rising tensions across the Middle East and energy markets.
"Do I finish it off, which would be very easy to do, or do I make a deal? It's getting to be decision time," Trump said during a Fox News interview. He identified Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried site linked to Iran's nuclear program, as a potential target for U.S. forces.
Mediators from Qatar traveled to Tehran on Sunday to continue negotiations between Washington and Tehran. This diplomatic movement occurred while Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants continued attacks on Saudi Arabia over the weekend.
The last confirmed U.S. strikes on Iranian soil took place on Sept. 1. Trump previously indicated that attacks would not resume until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Tehran has stated it is preparing a military response to any future U.S. strikes.
Trump claimed the U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global trade. He cited the return of crude oil flows to prewar levels as evidence of this control. Despite his comments, energy prices remain elevated due to ongoing disruption and a global refining squeeze.
Washington and Tehran have both repeatedly asserted control over the route, where trade flows remain severely curtailed. A Singapore-flagged container ship sank in the strait earlier this month after being struck by an unidentified projectile and catching fire. Ali Ozmaei, chief of the Iran Revolutionary Guard navy, said Tehran is "counting the moments" until it can sink American warships.
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are meeting with Iran's leadership in Tehran on Monday. These three nations signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, which stipulates that an armed attack against one member is an attack against all. It is the first meeting of the group since Houthi missiles and drones targeted sites across Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh airport and an administrative building belonging to Saudi Aramco. Saudi Arabia postponed its Future Investment Initiative conference to 2027 due to security concerns following fatal strikes.
