Trump Tells Barak Ravid He’s Ready for ‘Strong Military Action’ Against Iran As War Drags On

Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo

President Donald Trump said he is ready to ramp up the Iran war — yet again.

The president told Axios on Monday morning his administration is once again negotiating an end to the war with Iran — but if the talks fizzle out, he is willing to swing The Big Stick.

“We are in very deep talks with Iran,” Trump told reporter Barak Ravid. “If they don’t work out, we will go back to very strong military action.”

He told Ravid Iran does not have “much time” for diplomacy. “Either it goes fast or not at all,” Trump said.

Trump’s comments echo what he told French outlet LCI over the weekend, when he said he was “absolutely” open to resuming a full-scale war “if we don’t get 100% of what we want.”

The president did not say what he is looking for in particular, but he has insisted for months Iran can never obtain nuclear weapon, among other demands for ending the war.

LCI’s report coincided with an Axios report Trump halted a U.S. strike on Iran on Friday night. Trump had received a plan for a new round of strikes, but held off on approving them after the U.S. had hit Iran for 13 straight days prior.

The 13 consecutive days of attacks followed Iran striking a Cyprus-flag ship in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, violating the fragile ceasefire. Trump launched retaliatory strikes in response, and Iran killed two American troops with a missile and drone strike on a military base in Jordan on July 17.

Trump’s pause in the strike on Iran came after he told Ravid last week the enemy had not suffered 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 on July 23. He said he was “close” to a decision then — and he is apparently even closer now.

Trump later told reporters aboard Air Force One that there was a “chance” a deal comes together with Iran. He said Iran’s theocratic leaders had requested a meeting.

“Good things could happen, I guess,” he said.

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