Trump says decision time on Iran: deal or ‘finish it off’

Trump says decision time on Iran

President Donald Trump told Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures that the United States is "getting to be decision time" on whether to strike a deal with Tehran or resume attacks. "I have a decision to make: Do I finish it off, which would be very easy to do, or do I make a deal? That's all," he said, adding that the US does not "play games."

Options on the table

Trump framed the choice as a binary one: a negotiated settlement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or a renewed bombing campaign that could be launched after the November 3 midterm elections. He suggested any new strike would be “very easy” to execute, but also warned that a deal would be "a nice, big, beautiful agreement" if Iran honoured its side.

Military posture

Since the conflict escalated, the White House has dispatched a third aircraft‑carrier group to the Persian Gulf, increasing US naval presence in the region. The administration has also signalled a reduction in diplomatic staff at several Middle‑East embassies, citing heightened threats to American personnel.

Diplomatic moves

The State Department confirmed that US diplomats have been pulled out of Saudi Arabia and that broader staffing adjustments are under way. Meanwhile, Iran has denied any proposal to reopen the Hormuz Strait in exchange for a US blockade lift, calling recent US overtures "meaningless" until Tehran’s seven pre‑conditions are met.

Regional implications

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, keeping a critical oil transit route offline. Brent crude slipped below $116 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate hovered around $102, according to Bloomberg data. Analysts warned that the period between the midterms and the seating of the new Congress could be especially volatile.

What comes next?

US officials have not set a timetable for a possible strike, and Trump said there would be no attack on the day of the interview. The administration’s next move appears tied to the outcome of the November elections and any diplomatic progress made with Tehran in the coming weeks.