US President Donald Trump said he is seriously weighing a fresh round of major military action against Iran, one that would surpass the scale of "Operation Epic Fury," in an exclusive interview with Axios.
"I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," Trump told Axios in the interview.
He said Israel would join within minutes if asked, but added the US does not need Israeli involvement to launch a new operation. He also flagged "consequences" for Israel if it did join in, an apparent reference to possible Iranian retaliation against Israel.
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However, two US officials told the publication that no formal decision has been taken and no fresh military orders have been issued so far.
Trump also claimed that Israel would join the operation “in two minutes” if asked, but asserted that the United States was capable of acting alone. At the same time, he acknowledged there would be “consequences” if Israel participated, suggesting Tehran could retaliate against the country.
On the diplomatic front, Trump said Iran still wanted to negotiate but was not yet prepared to reach an agreement.
“They haven’t received enough pain yet,” he said.
According to the report, regional mediation efforts have failed to produce a breakthrough, with two sources familiar with the talks saying the Iranian leadership has not accepted the latest proposal. One of the sources said, “We are trying, but the Iranians are not being helpful.”
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in West Asia after nearly two weeks of escalating military action.
According to Axios, the United States has intensified attacks aimed at deterring Iranian operations against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has continued to step up its own military activities in the region.
The report also said Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have expanded attacks to Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea, adding pressure on another key global energy corridor.
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In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that any further Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea would be treated as Iran’s responsibility, describing the Houthis as an Iranian proxy. He said both Iran and the Houthis would face “major military punishment” if such attacks continued.
Separately, Trump told Axios that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to attend the wake of late Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington next week, adding that he would be willing to meet the Israeli leader if he visited the US capital.
The escalating rhetoric has fuelled concerns over a broader regional conflict, with global oil prices already climbing above $100 a barrel amid fears of disruptions to critical energy supply routes.
