Donald Trump said he is close to deciding whether to carry out a “massive attack” on Iran, saying the country’s leaders “haven’t received enough pain yet.”
In a short interview with Axios reporter Barak Ravid on Thursday, Trump mentioned he is thinking about military strikes that would be bigger than those in Operation Epic Fury, which he talked about early in his campaign.
He said he hasn’t made a final decision yet.
“I am considering a massive attack.
Bigger than ever before.I am close to making a decision.We are all set for it,” Trump said.
He also expressed frustration over stalled talks, saying Iran wants to negotiate but its leaders haven’t changed their stance.
Two U.S.
officials told Axios that no military order has been given and no final decision has been made.
Ravid reported that Trump did not give a timeline for making a decision but pressed him on Israel’s possible role in any attack.
Trump said Israel would join “in two minutes” if asked, while insisting the U.S.military “don’t need anybody” to carry out the strikes.
This comes as U.S.
operations against Iran have increased over the past 12 days in response to attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran continuing its own military actions in the region.
Separately, Trump warned on Truth Social that the U.S.
would hold Iran accountable if the Iran-backed Houthi rebels carry out more attacks on ships in the Red Sea, after threatening a blockade there.He called the Houthis an Iranian proxy and said “major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves.”
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