In brief
In a phone interview with Axios on Monday, President Donald Trump said he is "in no rush" to decide whether to launch further strikes against Iran, noting that the United States has already crippled the Iranian economy. Trump outlined three policy tracks—diplomacy, renewed military action, or continued economic pressure—and the differing views of key advisers. Oil prices have fallen sharply, and Trump said international markets now expect no war with Iran.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios in a phone interview that he is "in no rush" to decide whether the United States will launch further military strikes against Iran, after earlier remarks that the U.S. had already weakened the Iranian economy to the point of fiscal ruin and fuel shortages (Xinhua).
Trump explained that "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," adding that the decision would ultimately be guided by how the situation evolves in the two weeks leading up to the mid‑term elections (Xinhua).
While Trump said he does not feel pressured to act immediately, he is weighing three distinct courses of action, each backed by a different group of advisers. According to Reuters and referenced in the Xinhua report (Xinhua), the White House is pursuing a dual track: diplomatic negotiations are continuing, while also preparing for a possible military response if a diplomatic settlement proves unattainable (Xinhua).
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We are weighing a diplomatic deal, resuming military action, or maintaining maximum economic pressure without either a new deal or renewed hostilities.$$$$Trump said the choice of strategy would depend on the advice of his senior aides and the broader geopolitical context. The president’s team is split along lines that align with U.S. policy documents and the positions of allied states.
Advisers’ Perspectives
Vice President J.D. Vance and White House envoy Steve Witkoff are urging a diplomatic conclusion, prompting the president to consider whether a negotiated settlement could resolve the crisis before a change in administration after the midterms (Xinhua).
In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have pushed for a rapid military response, arguing that Iran cannot be trusted to honor an agreement and that the United States must finish the job at hand (Xinhua).
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are advising that the U.S. maintain the current "no war, no deal" status quo, allowing economic sanctions to continue to pressure Tehran (Xinhua).
Echoing the diplomatic stance, several Gulf countries have expressed a preference for continued sanctions and diplomatic avenues, conveying this position to President Trump through diplomatic channel (Xinhua).
After the conversation, Trump posted a short note on Truth Social about the price of oil, noting that crude is "dropping like a rock, down almost 10 U.S. dollars a barrel," which he attributed to market expectations that a war with Iran was unlikely in the near future (Xinhua).
He also said that Iran wants a settlement "as soon as possible," suggesting that the president is open to a quick resolution if the conditions allow (Xinhua).
Industry analysts and political commentators have weighed in on the president’s remarks. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is leaning toward a large‑scale attack on Iran after the elections, though the White House has not yet confirmed that policy direction (Xinhua). Some observers have viewed the comments as a tactical pause designed to manage domestic expectations and maintain leverage while working within diplomatic frameworks.
With the federal elections scheduled for mid‑November, the precise timing of any potential military escalation remains uncertain, as Trump has indicated he will wait to see how the electorate responds before making a final decision (Xinhua).
