US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he is seriously considering resuming large-scale military operations against Iran, warning that any new attack could be more extensive than the strikes carried out during “Operation Epic Fury.”
In a brief interview with Axios, Trump acknowledged that such a decision would carry significant consequences but said he had not yet made a final determination.
He gave no timetable for reaching a decision. Two US officials also told Axios that no final decision had been made and that the military had not received new operational orders.
“I’m considering a large-scale attack, bigger than ever before,” Trump said. “I’m close to making a decision, and everything is ready.”
Trump said Israel would join the operation “within two minutes” if Washington requested its participation, while insisting that the United States did not need assistance to launch another campaign against Iran.
However, he warned that Israeli involvement would have “consequences,” apparently referring to the likelihood of a direct Iranian response against Israel.
The US president also claimed that Iranian officials wanted negotiations but were not yet prepared to reach an agreement.
“They have not experienced enough pain yet,” Trump said.
Axios cited two regional sources familiar with mediation efforts as saying that Iran’s leadership had not accepted the latest proposals presented to Tehran.
“We are trying, but the Iranians are not helping,” one of the sources said.
The United States has intensified its military operations over the past 12 days in an effort to stop Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran, however, has shown no sign of changing course and has instead expanded its operations across the region.
The escalation has pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel and heightened fears of a broader regional war, despite widespread opposition in the United States to another prolonged conflict.
Tensions have also increased in the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has begun targeting Saudi vessels, further disrupting one of the world’s most important energy-shipping corridors.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the United States would hold Iran responsible if the Houthis resumed attacks against ships in the Red Sea.
He described the Houthis as Iranian proxies and warned that “major military punishment” would be imposed on both Iran and the Yemeni group.
Separately, Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to attend a farewell ceremony for Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington next week.
“My relationship with Bibi is very good,” Trump said. “I will meet him if he is here.”