President Donald Trump told an LCI correspondent he would consider a full-scale attack on Iran if the U.S. does not achieve "100%" of its demands. The remark coincided with Axios reporting that Trump paused a planned strike after 13 consecutive days of U.S. strikes. The escalation follows Iran's attack on a Cyprus-flagged ship and a July 17 missile-and-drone strike that killed two American service members in Jordan. Trump also warned Iran and Houthi proxies of "major military punishment."
Trump Says He Could Order Full-Scale Attack On Iran If U.S. Doesn’t Get “100%” — Pause Reported On Planned Strike
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President Donald Trump said he would consider launching a full-scale assault on Iran if Washington does not obtain "100%" of its demands, remarks that come amid a recent escalation of strikes and retaliatory attacks in the region.
Context: The comment was made Saturday during a brief exchange with Sonia Dridi, a White House correspondent for French television outlet LCI, who asked whether the president was contemplating ramping up military action against Iran.
What He Said
"If we don't get 100% of what we want, absolutely," Trump replied when asked whether he would resume a full-scale war with Iran.
Dridi's post — translated on X — did not specify the full list of demands Trump had in mind. The president has repeatedly insisted that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and has outlined broader conditions he says would be necessary to end hostilities.
Recent Developments
Axios reported that Trump halted a planned U.S. strike late Friday after receiving an operational plan. The pause came after U.S. forces had struck Iran for 13 consecutive days amid rising tensions.
Those strikes followed an earlier incident this month in which Iran struck a Cyprus-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, a move critics said violated a fragile ceasefire. On July 17, a missile-and-drone attack attributed to Iran killed two American service members at a military base in Jordan, further inflaming the situation.
According to Axios, Trump told correspondent Barak Ravid the adversary had not suffered enough "pain" and that he was "considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it."
Warnings And Broader Threats
On Truth Social, Trump also warned that the United States would hold Iran responsible if Iran-backed Houthi rebels continue attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Labeling the Houthis an Iranian proxy, he said "major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves."
Sources: Statements by President Trump to LCI correspondent Sonia Dridi (posted on X), reporting by Axios and comments to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, and posts on Truth Social.
Why This Matters
The president's comments and the reported pause on a planned strike underscore how quickly rhetoric and operational planning can push a regional conflict toward broader war. The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic, military and commercial shipping implications for the wider international community.
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