Escalating US Threats: Trump Considers Return to 'Major Operations'
As U.S. threats against Iran escalate and diplomatic efforts to end the war stall, the administration of President Donald Trump is intensifying consultations on the next phase, amid indications that the prospects for a military option are rising. Against this backdrop, President Trump has directed senior members of his administration to assess the feasibility of returning to “major operations,” while warning that combat activities would continue unless Tehran reaches an agreement with Washington.
Axios reported that three U.S. officials said senior officials held a secret, hours-long meeting at Camp David to discuss the next steps in the war with Iran, in preparation for a new phase of confrontation. The news outlet stated that Vice President J.D. Vance chaired the meeting, which included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. One official told the outlet that “some matters were settled in this meeting, while others were discussed in depth.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz “will not be reopened unless Iran’s conditions are met,” based on an Islamabad memorandum, and insisted that the United States can no longer “procrastinate to buy time.”
This comes as U.S. threats against Iran intensify, diplomatic efforts to end the war stall, and the Trump administration is ramping up consultations on the next phase, with signs pointing to an increased likelihood of a military option.
Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz, damaging the engine room. The agency confirmed that the crew members were safe, without providing further details, particularly regarding the date of the incident, the flag the vessel was flying, or whether it was an oil tanker or a liquefied natural gas carrier.
