According to US officials who spoke to the Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump recently evaluated the option of launching a full-scale war against Iran but later abandoned the idea and decided to continue the diplomatic path.
Officials stated that Trump held multiple meetings with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, during which they discussed whether the US should abandon negotiations and resume large-scale attacks on Iran. This evaluation was made despite the parties signing a memorandum of understanding on June 18 to end the war.
Diplomatic stalemate brought war option
According to the Wall Street Journal report, the diplomatic stalemate pushed Trump to seek alternative paths. Hegseth and Caine presented Trump with options for resuming large-scale airstrikes on military targets in Iran.
However, US officials said Trump has decided to stick with diplomatic talks for now and has repeatedly refrained from approving large-scale operations. Trump had previously threatened to 'destroy Iranian civilization' and considered seizing Hark Island, but he backed down in both cases.
August 18 deadline may be flexible
The same sources reported that Trump told his aides he is not uncomfortable with exceeding the August 18 deadline set for reaching an agreement with Tehran on Iran's nuclear program. The memorandum stipulates negotiations for a final agreement within 60 days.
A White House official told the Wall Street Journal that Trump has always been in favor of a diplomatic solution, stating, 'It would be wise for the Iranians to make a good deal with the US.'
Vance: Iran did not attack ships
US Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with Fox News, 'The President asked us to continue the negotiation path. If a successful diplomatic solution cannot be reached, we have many options.'
Vance said that if Iran does not make the necessary concessions, its nuclear program will remain destroyed and its military capacity will be dismantled. He also emphasized that Iranians have not attacked any ships in the past two weeks and that oil continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Trump 'made it clear that we will respond if Iranians attack ships.'
Crisis communication line dispute
US officials claimed that the establishment of a crisis communication line between Iran's Revolutionary Guards and US Central Command (CENTCOM) is evidence of improvement in Washington-Tehran relations. A White House official said, 'The conflict prevention channel is open and currently being used by both sides.'
However, Iran's Revolutionary Guards stated in a recent statement that US officials' claims about a direct communication line regarding the Strait of Hormuz are 'completely fabricated' and said, 'The strait belongs to Iran, America has no business here.'
Billions of dollars in fees crisis in the Strait of Hormuz
According to the Wall Street Journal, one of the main points of disagreement now is Iran's insistence on imposing billions of dollars in service fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This demand creates a new source of tension in the negotiations.
