‘Do I want to annihilate them?’ Trump weighs next phase of Iran war

Trump weighs ‘big decision’ on Iran as IRGC halts tanker in Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has once again raised the possibility of resuming a large-scale attack on Iran. His repeated warning comes as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps keeps the Strait of Hormuz heavily in its control and continues to restrict passage to vessels.In an interview with Axios Trump said that he was approaching a critical decision over the next phase of the Iran war, including whether to launch another round of major attacks.“I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not?” Trump said. “It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.”Trump’s remarks, however, were not a new threat to destroy Iran. He has made similar threats repeatedly since the conflict began, including warnings of attacks on Iran’s power infrastructure and other vital facilities. Axios described Thursday’s comments as coming at a critical juncture over whether Washington should restart massive attacks.

Hormuz remains a flashpoint

Iran has continued to restrict passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US has been trying to increase tanker traffic through the waterway and restore the flow of oil to global markets.Coinciding with Trump’s interview, the IRGC Navy also claimed to have struck a Togo-flagged tanker, stating that it was brought to a halt after what they described as an “illegal passage” through the strait. It accused the US military of having “incited and deceived” the vessel into attempting the crossing.The number of commercial vessels crossing the strait has fallen sharply. With incidents like this only leading to more concerns.The US military has also been maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports and has attempted to increase tanker movements through Hormuz. Trump told Axios that the blockade had prevented Iran from exporting its oil, saying ships attempting to do so had been attacked.The latest confrontation also comes against a wider deterioration in the region. Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen exchanged fresh strikes, raising concerns about both the Red Sea route and Gulf energy infrastructure.

Trump weighs next phase of war

Trump said he was considering whether to return to major combat operations against Iran after holding back from doing so earlier this year.According to Axios, Trump had paused plans to resume large-scale attacks in August after Saudi Arabia and Qatar raised concerns that Iran could retaliate against Saudi oil and gas facilities.Since then, Washington has suspended negotiations with Tehran, expanded its sanctions campaign and maintained the naval blockade while focusing military efforts on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.US officials told Axios that Trump and defence secretary Pete Hegseth have ordered US forces in the Middle East to remain at their current levels through the end of the year, keeping Washington prepared for a possible return to full-scale combat.Trump is also expected to meet leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next week. He said he wanted to hear directly from the Gulf leaders about the war and its next phase.The latest tanker strike therefore comes at a critical moment for the conflict: Hormuz remains heavily restricted, attempts to restore commercial shipping have faced Iranian resistance, and Trump is weighing whether to escalate the war again or pursue a deal.