Trump weighs further Iran strikes, says he faces ‘big decision’
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Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he is considering whether to launch further attacks against Iran, including a possible campaign aimed at destroying the regime and ending the conflict.
“I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not?” Trump told Axios on Thursday. “It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.”
The remarks echoed earlier threats issued by Trump against Tehran since the war began. However, he indicated that his next move could be influenced by discussions with Gulf allies during next week’s United Nations General Assembly session.
“I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them,” Trump said.
Tensions are expected to remain high at the gathering after Iran-backed Houthi forces launched attacks on Saudi Arabia last week, raising concerns about the security of global oil and gas supplies.
The Iran conflict also featured prominently at the UN Security Council on Thursday, when Russia and China vetoed a proposal to extend the mandate of an expert panel monitoring sanctions against Tehran and its nuclear programme.
Washington has repeatedly accused Moscow and Beijing of shielding Iran and supporting its military operations during the conflict. Jennifer Locetta, the US ambassador to the UN, described the vetoes as an “act of obstructionism” and said they reflected Russian and Chinese support for “rogue regimes”.
Meanwhile, Iran was reported to have shot down two US MQ-1 Predator drones in recent days. The older unmanned aircraft, each estimated to be worth about $4 million, were reportedly being used to protect the Strait of Hormuz amid a US naval blockade, CBS News reported.
The US has lost at least 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the start of the war, amounting to an estimated loss of $720 million, according to a Congressional Budget Office report released this week.
Iran has repeatedly said it will continue attacking US troops and military assets in the Middle East until Washington recognises Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.
With peace talks stalled, the Iranian regime has issued a fresh ultimatum, saying the strait will remain closed until Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are removed from power.
“Our fighters will not open the Strait of Hormuz until the criminal Trump and the bloodthirsty Netanyahu are pulled down from the seat of power, and this is the first stage of the Iranian nation’s revenge,” said Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a political adviser to Iran’s missing Supreme Leader.