Trump Gathers Security Team to Consider Renewed Military Action Against Iran

On Wednesday and Thursday, Donald Trump convened his national security team at the White House to deliberate on whether to resume large-scale military operations against Iran, according to senior U.S. officials cited by Fox News.

As of this report, no formal attack orders have been issued, but the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) is finalizing preparations for a potential operation, pending directives from Washington.

From the Oval Office, Trump issued a stark warning: "I would prefer not to destroy the rest of the country, if possible, but I might have to. You'll know soon enough."

The president also noted that Iran would require 25 years to rebuild after the joint offensive launched by the United States and Israel in February, describing the current situation as "practically an occupation," referring to the control U.S. forces exert over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Trump emphasized that Washington "is getting more oil now than before the war started" due to this control and reiterated that Iranian authorities "are not doing anything without approval" from his administration. He was unequivocal on one matter: Tehran "will not have nuclear weapons."

Options on the Table

The administration is considering three options: resuming military attacks, maintaining economic pressure through sanctions and a maritime blockade, or negotiating a deal requiring significant concessions from Iran.

Sources cited by Fox News suggested that the new moon on November 9—which would result in minimal night illumination over the Middle East—could offer a favorable operational window, though there is no confirmation that Trump has ordered any attack to coincide with that date.

Domestic Political Impact

Internal political dynamics complicate the calculus. Following the Republican defeat in Tuesday's midterm elections, where Democrats regained control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Trump acknowledged that the conflict influenced the results: "I think part of it was Iran," he told Fox News.

Nonetheless, the president defended his decision to attack: "I did the right thing. I would do it again," he stated to the Wall Street Journal.

Rising Tensions and Diplomatic Efforts

In Tehran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard reported Friday that two oil tankers collided with mines and caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, signaling ongoing tensions in the area.

Iran, on the other hand, reportedly sent a nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar on Thursday, as indirect negotiations remain stalled. Tehran is demanding the fulfillment of seven preconditions, including the lifting of sanctions and an end to the maritime blockade.

Amid this diplomatic backdrop, Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke with Trump by phone on Friday, urging him to pursue diplomacy and avoid further escalation with Iran, as reported by the Associated Press.

The conflict began on February 28, 2026, with Operation Epic Fury, a coordinated air assault by the U.S. and Israel on Iranian nuclear and military facilities. A ceasefire agreed upon in June through the Islamabad Memorandum was broken in July when Iran attacked commercial vessels in the strait, prompting Trump to order another round of bombings.

This week, Trump described that agreement as "a waste of time" and left open the possibility of resuming large-scale attacks, while the newly Democrat-majority Congress will not be seated until January 3, 2027.