President Donald Trump said Friday evening that he has not yet made a decision on whether to escalate the US military campaign against Iran, according to reports. The comment marks a less definitive tone than his previous statements on the matter.
President Donald Trump said Friday evening that he has not yet decided whether to escalate the US air campaign against Iran, according to reports. The statement, delivered at 22:36 Jerusalem time, comes amid a prolonged US military campaign that has seen daily strikes on Iranian targets since early June.
The new comment marks a notable shift in tone from Trump's recent public statements. As The Zioneer reported on July 15, Trump said the strikes would continue 'until I say otherwise.' On June 11, he told Fox News that the US 'hasn't hit Iran hard enough yet.' And on July 23, he stated in an interview with N12 that he was 'close to making a decision' on a massive attack. The current statement, by contrast, reflects uncertainty and a lack of commitment to escalation.
The remark leaves open whether the Trump administration will pursue a diplomatic path or continue to increase military pressure. Trump's previous statements have also noted the possibility of a deal, but he has expressed doubt that Iran is ready for negotiations. The decision on escalation, he now says, remains pending.
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Source and signal
- Open-source intake