President Donald Trump said it is “possible” the United States will ramp up bombing of Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, and separately told reporters Washington must soon choose to “blow them up or make a deal,” as Qatar-mediated diplomacy remained stalled.
Asked in a TIME magazine interview whether he would intensify bombing after the midterms, Trump replied “Possible,” Fox News (opens in new tab) and the AP reported. Pressed on whether he “might annihilate Iran,” he again used “possible,” and said the United States had been “stocking up” weapons for about six months. He declined to discuss specific targets.
At an Oval Office exchange Wednesday, Trump said: “We have to make that decision: We blow them up or make a deal,” and that he would decide “very soon,” Politico (opens in new tab) reported. The remarks follow Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s order on Monday that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his UNGA delegation leave New York after weekend talks stalled. Iran has said the departure was already scheduled.
Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest proposal centered on reopening the Strait of Hormuz within about a week as “not good enough.” Oil prices remained elevated as traders weighed stalled talks against recovering regional crude flows. Whether post-midterm escalation occurs is a future decision; no order or timetable has been announced.