Trump Weighs US Strikes on Iran After Rout
US President Donald Trump is weighing whether to order new US strikes on Iran, even as he opened a new diplomatic channel on Friday by calling Qatar’s emir to discuss ending the eight-month-old conflict. He said the world would “know very soon” whether he makes a deal with Tehran or orders new strikes to “destroy what is left” of the country.
The call with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani came amid an intensifying regional diplomatic effort to prevent another round of major hostilities. Trump has continued to keep military action on the table, saying on Thursday that Iran could take 25 years to rebuild from the damage already inflicted.
“I would prefer not to destroy what is left of the country, if possible, but I may have to do so,” Trump told reporters.
A president caught between war and the midterms
Trump’s latest moves show the dilemma he faces after the Republican party’s midterm defeat. Democrats have won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, giving them a chance to challenge his policies in his final two years.
The Iran war contributed to the Republican defeat, particularly because of its impact on gasoline prices and the wider cost of living. Pakistan has said the US midterm results will not unravel ties with Washington, and Islamabad has signalled sustained strategic engagement with the new Congress in mind.
While both Trump and Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the war’s political consequences, Trump defended his decision to launch the conflict. “If I had to do it again, I’d do it again,” he said after the election. Vance was more direct, writing on social media that “the reason we lost is the war”.
In an Oval Office exchange on Thursday, Trump nevertheless suggested that the election results would not deter him from military action. “If we have to do the rest of the Iran thing, we’re very much locked in,” he said.
Trump has also named Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles, as he reshapes his team for the final two years of his presidency.
What US strikes on Iran could look like
The president has several options: maintain the present posture, continue the naval blockade on Iranian oil exports, or launch another campaign against Iran’s remaining military and strategic infrastructure. A settlement involving reopening the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief and renewed nuclear talks remains another possibility.
US media reports suggest Centcom is preparing for a possible return to major combat operations, although it has not received an order to begin them.
Meanwhile, diplomacy has accelerated. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held calls with regional counterparts this week, and Qatari mediators have discussed a possible US easing of its naval blockade and release of frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear negotiations.
Tehran has held firm on seven demands for nuclear talks, refusing negotiations without US concessions, while Iran has also distributed iodine tablets near the Bushehr nuclear plant under a nuclear emergency plan.
Why Pakistan’s role matters now
Senior diplomats in Washington say they do not expect an immediate change in the administration’s foreign policy. Military preparations and peace efforts are likely to continue together.
They believe the election has increased, rather than diminished, Pakistan’s importance as a potential peacemaker. Islamabad and other regional capitals, however, are waiting for the dust to settle in Washington, including uncertainty over the future of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, before launching another diplomatic initiative.
Pakistan has already played a visible part in the diplomacy around the conflict. The Foreign Office has said Pakistan will continue its efforts to facilitate dialogue in the conflict involving Iran and the United States, and Pakistan suspended trade through the Gabd, Rimdan and Taftan border crossings with Iran as the crisis deepened.
The costs shaping the choice
Trump’s threat that the US might eventually have to “give them the hammer” suggests that another operation could go beyond limited punitive strikes. A further escalation could invite Iranian retaliation against American bases, Gulf infrastructure and commercial shipping. A strike against the deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility has also been discussed as a possible option.
The election has strengthened Democrats’ ability to challenge the administration’s conduct of the war. They will assume control of congressional committees and spending decisions when the new Congress convenes in January. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has already called for an end to the conflict. “This war must end. It must end,” he said. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries also urged Trump to end the war before the new Congress takes office, blaming the conflict for increasing fuel, fertiliser and grocery costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is Trump deciding on Iran?
He is weighing whether to make a deal with Tehran or order new strikes to “destroy what is left” of the country. He says the world will “know very soon” which path he takes.
How did the midterms affect the Iran war?
Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate, and the war contributed to the Republican defeat because of its impact on petrol prices and the cost of living. Democrats will control congressional committees and spending decisions from January.
What would a deal with Iran involve?
Qatari mediators have discussed the US easing its naval blockade and releasing frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear negotiations.
Why is Pakistan seen as a peacemaker?
Diplomats in Washington believe the election has increased Pakistan’s importance as a potential peacemaker, and Pakistan’s Foreign Office has said it will continue its efforts to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States.
