In brief
President Trump told Axios in a phone interview that he is not in a hurry to decide whether to launch further attacks on Iran and that a decision, whether positive or negative, will be made eventually. He highlighted the economic damage inflicted on Tehran and noted that advisors have differing views on whether to pursue diplomacy, continued sanctions or new combat operations.
On Monday, November 2, U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios that he was “in no rush” to decide whether to resume military action against Iran, according to Xinhua. Trump explained that he would ultimately act on the situation, but that the United States would act only when it was time, citing the economic toll already imposed on Tehran.
Trump said, “One way or the other, we will do something, but there is no rush. We crippled them financially. They have no money, no gasoline and their people are getting very tired of it.”
In the same interview, he emphasized that his administration is weighing three distinct options: pursuing a diplomatic agreement with Iran, maintaining maximum economic pressure, or launching a new military campaign, each with a different group of advisers backing it.
Vice President J.D. Vance and White House envoy Steve Witkoff are pushing for a diplomatic framework, arguing that renewed hostilities may not improve the situation. Gulf states have also supported a non‑military approach, according to people familiar with the matter, and those viewpoints have been conveyed to Trump in briefings.
In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth want the United States to resume strikes, citing Iran’s unreliability. Their position is echoed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who advise keeping the current “no war, no deal” status quo and allowing economic pressure to continue.
A key factor in Trump’s assessment is the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, which some see as a turning point. Reuters reported that Trump is leaning toward a large‑scale attack on Iran after the midterms, potentially targeting Iranian infrastructure. The White House, however, keeps the decision open until the campaign’s outcome becomes clearer.
Trump also posted on Truth Social that oil prices were “dropping like a rock, down almost 10 U.S. dollars a barrel.” He linked the decline to market expectations that a war with Iran would not happen, and also said, “Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen,” adding that diplomatic talks may still yield a solution.
Other media reports, including an online live blog managed by Channel 12, reiterated that Trump was “in no rush” to decide on military action and that U.S. economic pressure was weakening Tehran. Independent reporting highlighted that the President has maintained the same stance in interviews with multiple outlets, emphasizing the possibility of action in the future while expressing no urgency.
These statements suggest that while the United States has already put great economic pressure on Iran, Trump’s administration remains cautious about the timing of any additional military measures. The eventual decision will likely depend on diplomatic developments, election outcomes and advice from senior U.S. officials.
