Trump mulls 'massive attack' on Iran as Pakistan seeks to restart peace talks

President Donald Trump told Axios he is considering a "massive attack" on Iran, without providing a deadline for when he would make a decision. Meanwhile, Pakistan is exploring ways to restart stalled peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, according to Reuters.

Stocks rose and oil prices fell as investors grew hopeful that the warring powers could find an off-ramp from their path of escalating hostilities.

Trump's Remarks on Potential Strikes

Speaking to Axios on Thursday, Trump said the proposed strikes would be larger than anything seen in the conflict so far, and that Iran has not "received enough pain yet."

"I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," Trump said in the interview.

The president said Israel would join the operation "in two minutes if I ask them to," but noted that Israel could face retaliation from Iran if it participated.

Trump also repeated his claim that Iran wants to negotiate, but added that Tehran is not yet ready to make a deal with the U.S.

Pakistan's Diplomatic Efforts

Pakistan is seeking to restart stalled peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, Reuters reported Friday, citing three Pakistani sources.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Islamabad for the second time in 10 days to participate in exploratory discussions, according to Reuters. Momeni, who is seen as allied with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, met with Pakistani leaders and Defense Chief Asim Munir during his latest trip.

The push by Pakistan — a mediator throughout the U.S.' nearly five-month-long war with Iran — followed an initiative led by China, Iran's largest trading partner, Reuters reported.

U.S. Military Operations

U.S. forces have struck Iranian targets over the past two weeks, with Central Command completing a 13th consecutive night of strikes overnight.

Russia and China's Role

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee this week that Russia and China "are, at different levels, enabling some of the things Iran is doing."

However, Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday morning that, based on assurances he received from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the "two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating."

"If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests," Trump wrote, citing their assurances.

Houthi Attacks and U.S. Response

On Thursday, Trump said he would hold Iran responsible for further attacks by Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthis, after the militant group claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

"If they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves," Trump said.

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