White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a Fox News interview that President Trump prefers a diplomatic solution, but warned that 'all options remain on the table' if Iran continues actions in the Strait of Hormuz or against US allies. The clarification follows reports that Trump decided not to escalate military strikes against Iran at this stage.
The White House on Sunday sought to clarify the administration's stance on Iran, with Communications Director Steven Cheung stating in a Fox News interview that 'all options remain on the table' even as President Trump reportedly decided not to escalate the military campaign at this stage. Cheung reiterated Trump's preference for a diplomatic resolution but warned that continued Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz or against US allies would keep all options open. He noted that 13 consecutive days of strikes and severe sanctions have already weakened Iran's economy, and urged Tehran to 'turn to negotiations and reach an agreement.' The clarification follows a day of conflicting reports on Saturday evening, when The Zioneer published a series of updates on the escalation freeze.
On Saturday evening, The Zioneer reported that Axios first broke the news that Trump opposed expanding strikes for now, with the US military nonetheless preparing contingency plans for large-scale operations. Hours later, The New York Times revealed that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine had secretly warned the administration that renewed fighting would dangerously deplete US Patriot interceptor stocks in the Middle East. Additional NYT reports confirmed that Trump had frozen plans for a significant escalation, citing concerns over interceptor shortages. Israeli media then quoted Brig. Gen. (res.) Oren Solomon, a former senior IDF officer, who cautioned that the leak could be a deception to mislead Iran — but warned that if genuine, it could signal to Tehran that the pressure will pass. All these reports were unconfirmed by official sources at the time.
As The Zioneer reported on July 1, Trump had previously reviewed options for a full-scale war against Iran to 'finish the job' but decided against it out of concern for the diplomatic track. Earlier in June, the administration emphasized maintaining pressure on Iran through both kinetic and economic means. Cheung's remarks underscore the dual-track strategy: sustained military strikes and sanctions alongside a stated openness to diplomacy.
What remains unclear is whether Cheung's statement confirms or denies the freeze reports — the White House did not directly address them. The Israeli officer's comment raises the possibility that the reports themselves may be a strategic deception. It is also uncertain whether Iran will respond to the diplomatic overture, or whether the White House will consider further escalation if Tehran does not engage.
12 developments
- StrongTrump reviewed full-scale war option with Iran but decided against it for now, WSJ reports
- StrongTrump ordered halt to US strikes on Iran for two weeks, Axios reports
- ConfirmedTrump discussed a short but extensive military operation in Iran, the White House weighs short-duration campaign
- DevelopingAnalysis: Iran plays for time, Trump prepares battlefield for a larger campaign
Source and signal
- Open-source intake