President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is reportedly nearing a decision on whether to launch what he described as a “massive attack” against Iran, indicating that any potential military operation could exceed the scope of previous U.S. strikes while arguing that Tehran has not yet faced sufficient consequences.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Axios reporter Barak Ravid, Trump said he is actively weighing military action but emphasized that no final decision has been made.
“I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” Trump told Axios.
The president’s comments suggest the administration is evaluating military options that would go beyond Operation Epic Fury, which was carried out at the outset of the current campaign against Iran.
While Trump said Iran remains interested in negotiations, he expressed frustration with the lack of progress in diplomatic efforts and argued that the country’s leadership has not altered its position.
“They haven’t received enough pain yet,” Trump told the outlet.
According to Axios, two U.S. officials also said that no military order has been issued and that the president has not yet made a final decision regarding additional strikes.
The report noted that Trump did not provide a timeline for when he expects to reach a conclusion. During the interview, Ravid also asked the president about the possibility of Israel participating in any future military operation.
Trump said Israel would quickly join such an effort if requested.
“They would join in two minutes if I ask them to,” Trump said.
At the same time, the president maintained that the United States is capable of conducting another round of military operations without outside assistance.
“The U.S. military don’t need anybody,” Trump said, according to the report.
The remarks come as military operations involving the United States and Iran have intensified over the past 12 days following attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the article, Tehran has continued carrying out its own military actions throughout the region during the same period.
Trump also addressed escalating tensions involving the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
In a separate Truth Social post, the president warned that the United States would hold Iran responsible if the Houthis launch additional attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea after threatening a blockade in the area.
Describing the Houthis as an Iranian proxy force, Trump warned that any future attacks would carry significant consequences.
“Major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves,” Trump wrote.
The warning came as concerns continue to grow over shipping routes in the region. The Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea are both major maritime corridors for international commerce, and attacks or threats involving either waterway have heightened tensions during the ongoing conflict.
Although Trump indicated he is seriously considering a broader military response, both he and U.S. officials made clear that no final authorization has been issued. According to the Axios report, military preparations may be underway, but the president has not yet decided whether to move forward with a larger operation.
For now, Trump’s comments underscore the administration’s increasingly forceful rhetoric toward Tehran while leaving open the possibility that additional military action could follow if the president determines it is necessary.
