Trump cites 9/1 strikes as he weighs Iran deal or final blow
Qatari mediators visited Tehran Sunday as senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan prepare to meet Iranian leaders Monday.
By Ana Castro ·
President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is deciding whether to reach an agreement with Iran or complete military operations against the country. In an interview with Fox News, he framed the choice as a binary decision made at a specific juncture in the conflict.
"Do I finish it off, which would be very easy to do, or do I make a deal? It's getting to be decision time," Trump said. He identified Pickaxe Mountain, a site linked to Iran's nuclear program, as a potential target for the next phase of strikes.
The last confirmed U.S. military strikes on Iran occurred on Sept. 1. Trump previously indicated that further attacks would likely wait until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Tehran has stated it is preparing a military response to any future U.S. strikes.
Diplomatic efforts continued alongside the military posturing. Mediators from Qatar, which has been central to prior negotiations between Washington and Tehran, traveled to Tehran on Sunday. This visit occurred as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia continued over the weekend.
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are scheduled to meet with Iranian leadership in Tehran on Monday. The three nations signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, which treats an armed attack on one member as an attack on all. This is the first gathering of the group since Houthi missiles and drones targeted sites in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh airport and an administrative building for Saudi Aramco.
Trade routes remain a focal point of the dispute. Trump claimed the U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz, citing a return of crude oil flows to prewar levels. Energy prices have stayed high due to the disruption and a global refining squeeze. Both Washington and Tehran have asserted control over the waterway, where trade flows remain severely limited.
A Singapore-flagged container ship sank in the strait earlier this month after being hit by an unidentified projectile and catching fire. Ali Ozmaei, chief of the Iran Revolutionary Guard navy, said earlier this month that Tehran is "counting the moments" until it can sink American warships. Saudi Arabia postponed its Future Investment Initiative conference to 2027 due to security concerns following recent fatal strikes.
