Top US National Security Officials Discuss Next Steps Regarding Iran
Amid escalating U.S. threats against Iran and stalled diplomatic efforts to end the war, the Donald Trump administration has intensified consultations on the next phase, with indications that the military option remains open. Senior U.S. national security officials held a hours-long meeting at Camp David to discuss the next steps in the conflict with Iran.
Axios reported, citing three U.S. officials, that the meeting, which was not announced by the U.S. administration, was chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance and attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine.
One official told the outlet that “decisions have been made, or at least discussed in depth,” pointing to the significance of the consultations at a sensitive stage of the war, as negotiations remain stalled and the likelihood of a return to major military operations increases.
Axios noted that the last similar meeting took place in June 2025, just days before Israel launched its war on Iran, giving the Camp David meeting additional importance amid escalating U.S. threats and the ambiguity surrounding the conflict’s trajectory.
Trump recently stated that he has been forced to make a decision on the war, adding, “I now have to make a decision: either Iran signs the agreement, or it will cease to exist.”
When asked on Friday about his next move, he declined to provide details, saying, “If I told you, you’d have a big story. But you’ll see. Things are going very well for us, and Iran is not in a good position.”
He also spoke about the deteriorating economic situation in Iran, stating that its inflation rate has reached approximately 310 percent and that the Iranian economy has “completely collapsed,” adding that inflation is one of its most prominent challenges.
Amid mutual threats and diplomatic deadlock, two oil tankers were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, in the latest development threatening navigation in one of the world’s most critical energy shipping lanes.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that the first tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while exiting the strait, causing a limited fire on board. Hours later, a crude oil tanker reported being hit by an unidentified projectile east of the Sultanate of Oman, with no injuries or environmental damage recorded.
