US officials told the Wall Street Journal that President Donald Trump recently weighed the option of a full-scale war with Iran but later decided to pursue diplomacy instead.
The officials said Trump held multiple meetings with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, in which they discussed whether the US should abandon negotiations and resume large-scale attacks on Iran. This assessment came despite the parties having signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 to end the war.
Diplomatic stalemate brings war option
The Wall Street Journal reported that the diplomatic stalemate pushed Trump to seek alternatives. Hegseth and Caine presented Trump with options for resuming large-scale airstrikes on military targets in Iran.
However, US officials said Trump has decided to stick with diplomatic talks for now and has repeatedly refrained from approving large-scale operations. Trump had previously threatened to 'destroy Iranian civilization' and considered seizing Hark Island, but backed down in both cases.
August 18 deadline may be flexible
The same sources reported that Trump told his aides he is not uncomfortable with exceeding the August 18 deadline set for reaching an agreement with Tehran on Iran's nuclear program. The memorandum of understanding stipulates that negotiations for a final agreement should be conducted within 60 days.
A White House official told the Wall Street Journal that Trump has always favored a diplomatic solution, saying, 'It would be wise for the Iranians to make a good deal with the US.'
Vance: Iran did not attack ships
US Vice President JD Vance told Fox News, 'The President asked us to continue the negotiation path. If a successful diplomatic solution cannot be reached, we have many options.'
Vance said that if Iran does not make the necessary concessions, its nuclear program will remain destroyed and its military capacity shattered. Emphasizing that Iranians have not attacked any ships in the last two weeks and that oil continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz, Vance added that Trump 'made it clear that we will respond if Iranians attack ships.'
Crisis communication line dispute
US officials claimed that the establishment of a crisis communication line between Iran's Revolutionary Guard and the US Central Command (CENTCOM) is evidence of improved Washington-Tehran relations. A White House official said, 'The conflict prevention channel is open and currently being used by both sides.'
However, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said in a recent statement that US officials' claims about a direct communication line regarding the Strait of Hormuz are 'completely fabricated' and stated, 'The Strait belongs to Iran, America has no business here.'
Billion-dollar fee crisis in Strait of Hormuz
According to the Wall Street Journal, one of the main points of disagreement is Iran's insistence on imposing billions of dollars in service fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This demand is creating a new source of tension in the negotiations.
