Trump: US-Iran war at critical juncture, faces major decision on large-scale strikes against Iran

Cailian Press, September 18 (Edited by Niu Zhanlin) — According to media reports, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he is approaching a critical juncture where he must decide whether to launch large-scale military strikes again in an effort to end the ongoing conflict.

Trump's Statement

Trump claimed on the same day:

"I am soon facing a major decision. Do I strike to completely destroy the Iranian regime, or do I not? This is a significant decision. Anything could happen."

Although Trump has previously issued similar threats multiple times, this statement comes at a crucial moment. As the war continues, domestic support for the conflict in the United States is under pressure, and Trump's recent remarks have become more direct.

Regional Developments

Over the past week, the global energy transport situation has further complicated. Houthi forces advanced rapidly along the Red Sea coast of Yemen, while also suffering damage from drone attacks. Meanwhile, the United States appears prepared to remain temporarily outside the fighting in Yemen.

Upcoming Diplomatic Meetings

Trump plans to meet with leaders from six Gulf countries during his visit to New York next Tuesday, including:

• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Qatar
• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman

This meeting may influence the direction of the next phase of the war, including whether the U.S. pushes for renewed diplomatic mediation or escalates military actions further. If Trump wishes to resume large-scale military operations, he needs the support of regional allies.

War Outlook and Official Warnings

In recent days, Trump has repeatedly stated that the war is nearing its end. However, some U.S. officials warn that the current conflict has fallen into a difficult-to-sustain stalemate of "neither war nor peace." They believe that if no agreement is reached by then, Trump might launch large-scale military action again after the U.S. midterm elections.

In an interview, Trump explicitly stated that he hopes to use the meetings during the UN General Assembly session to directly hear the views of regional allies on the next steps of the war.

"I want to know their positions and their current situations. We have been working very hard to protect them."

However, Trump refused to disclose whether he would decide the next step of the war before or after the midterm elections.

Previous Delays and Current Strategy

In August this year, after Saudi Arabia and Qatar expressed concerns, Trump postponed plans to resume large-scale military action. At that time, both countries worried that if the U.S. launched another large-scale attack, Iran might retaliate by striking Saudi oil and gas facilities.

Since then, Trump has adopted a relatively "low-profile" strategy:

• Suspending negotiations with Iran
• Initiating new rounds of economic sanctions
• Continuing the naval blockade of Iranian ports
• Focusing U.S. military efforts on reopening shipping lanes and increasing global oil supplies

Military Posture

U.S. officials said that Trump and the U.S. Secretary of Defense have ordered the U.S. military to maintain its current force deployment in the Middle East at least until the end of this year, ensuring rapid response capabilities should the situation escalate and full-scale military action resume.

These officials noted that Trump needs to decide on the next strategic step as soon as possible, partly because the U.S. military cannot sustain the current "standby" status indefinitely.

Naval Blockade and Iran Contacts

On Thursday, Trump pointed out that he was "very satisfied" with the effectiveness of the U.S. naval blockade in preventing Iran from exporting oil.

"Since we started taking action, not a single ship has sailed to Iran. They tried, but we destroyed them."

Trump also stated that Iran is currently maintaining direct contact with the United States and that the Iranian side still hopes to reach an agreement.