US President Donald Trump signals reluctance to resume attacks on Iran if negotiations progress, as vessel strikes in the Strait of Hormuz threaten global energy supplies.
Trump Signals Reluctance to Resume Military Attacks
US President Donald Trump has said he is highly unlikely to authorise fresh military strikes against Iran if ongoing diplomatic negotiations make progress, signalling a possible shift towards resolving the conflict through dialogue.
Speaking to CNN in a telephone interview on Sunday, Trump said the decision would depend on whether Iran agreed to a strong deal capable of addressing Washington’s concerns.
“The answer is, highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary,” Trump said when asked about the possibility of renewed attacks.
However, Trump warned that the United States had already identified potential infrastructure targets in Iran should military operations resume. He specifically mentioned 38 bridges that American forces could destroy within an hour.
The comments came after Trump had previously suggested that major military operations against Iran could resume following the US midterm elections. Despite those warnings, there has been no indication of a large-scale American military offensive since the elections.
US Launches Task Force Iron Gate Against Iran
Despite Trump’s apparent preference for diplomacy, Washington continues to maintain military and economic pressure on Tehran.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump announced that Task Force Iron Gate was fully operational. The campaign, first reported by Reuters, is designed to restrict Iran’s movement of advanced weapons and other sanctioned materials across its land borders and through the Caspian Sea.
The operation represents another effort by the United States to weaken Iran’s military supply networks and limit its access to restricted materials.
Meanwhile, Iran has warned that it would retaliate against US and Israeli targets if Washington resumes major military attacks.
Reports of explosions in southern Iran on Saturday also raised concerns about a possible escalation. Iranian state television said authorities had not confirmed any missile strikes on the country’s territory, suggesting that some of the explosions could have been connected to military activities.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency, however, reported that two missiles had struck Qeshm Island, although neither Washington nor Tehran had officially confirmed the report.
US-Iran Conflict Disrupts Shipping in Strait of Hormuz
Tensions have continued to escalate around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important energy shipping routes, as both countries reported incidents involving commercial vessels and oil tankers.
The US military said its air force fired at the stern of a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman on Saturday evening, disabling it as the ship attempted to pass through the American blockade.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy separately reported that two oil tankers caught fire after hitting mines while attempting to navigate what it described as an unauthorised route through the Strait of Hormuz.
The semi-official Fars news agency later reported that a third tanker had also suffered an explosion and caught fire. Reuters said it could not independently verify the reported attacks.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations also reported an incident involving a bulk carrier and military forces approximately 18 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates. The extent of the damage and whether the incident was connected to the reported American attack remained unclear.The maritime disruptions have intensified concerns about global energy supplies, as the conflict continues to restrict the movement of oil and other commodities through the Gulf region.
Since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran in February, Tehran has sought to pressure Washington by targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. American forces subsequently began blockading movements to and from Iranian ports in April.
Iran War Creates Political Divisions Within Trump’s Administration
The conflict has also become a significant political issue in the United States, following Republican losses in last week’s midterm elections.
Trump acknowledged that the war contributed to the party’s electoral defeat, while Vice President JD Vance went further by directly blaming the conflict.
In a social media post, Vance stated, “The reason we lost is the war.”
Trump subsequently told reporters that many people were unhappy with Vance’s comments on Iran.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also considered a potential successor to Trump, declined to directly discuss the relationship between the conflict and the election results.
However, Rubio defended the president’s decision to confront Iran, describing the threat posed by Tehran as a longstanding security concern that Trump had addressed.
The remarks highlight growing political pressure on the administration to demonstrate progress towards ending the conflict.
Qatar Continues Mediation as Iran Submits Nuclear Proposal
Diplomatic efforts to end the war are continuing, with Qatar playing a central role in facilitating discussions between Washington and Tehran.
Qatar rejected reports that the United States and Iran had failed to reach an agreement, saying its prime minister had confirmed that both sides were still working towards a possible deal.
However, Rubio expressed doubts about the likelihood of an immediate breakthrough, arguing that Iran’s demands remained unacceptable and unrealistic from Washington’s perspective.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday that Tehran had submitted a nuclear proposal to the United States through Qatar. Washington was reviewing the proposal, but further discussions would depend on the American government addressing Iran’s seven demands.
Among Tehran’s conditions are sanctions relief, access to frozen Iranian assets and compensation for damages caused by the war.
Washington, however, maintains that nuclear issues must form part of the initial negotiations.
Saudi Arabia Reports Damage to Aramco Building Amid Regional Escalation
The wider Middle East conflict has also expanded beyond the immediate confrontation between Iran, Israel and the United States.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said on Sunday that an administrative building belonging to state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco in Riyadh was damaged by falling debris following an attempted attack.
No injuries or fatalities were reported.
The development comes amid an escalation involving Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, further widening the regional security crisis.
With diplomatic negotiations yet to produce a breakthrough, continued attacks on shipping routes and energy-related infrastructure remain a major concern for international markets.
Trump’s latest comments suggest that Washington may be willing to avoid another round of major military strikes if negotiations succeed. However, disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and war reparations, alongside continued maritime attacks, indicate that a lasting agreement remains uncertain.
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