President Donald Trump told Axios he is "weighing whether to 'annihilate' the Iranian regime," calling it a major decision amid renewed regional attacks. Iranian strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and intensified Houthi assaults on Saudi oil infrastructure have fueled energy-market worries. Trump said his choice may depend on talks with Gulf leaders at the UN General Assembly and reiterated an unverified claim that Iran was "two weeks" from a nuclear weapon, adding that oil prices would fall if the conflict ends.
Trump Says He’S Weighing Whether to 'Annihilate' Iran as Gulf Tensions Rise
(Mark Schiefelbein/AP photo)
President Donald Trump told Axios reporter Barak Ravid on Thursday that he is "weighing whether to 'annihilate' the Iranian regime," describing the choice as a major decision amid escalating regional violence and diplomatic talks.
Ravid framed the comment as part of a pivotal moment over whether the U.S. or its partners should resume large-scale strikes aimed at bringing the conflict to a close. The remarks come as Iranian strikes in the Strait of Hormuz have continued and Iran-backed Houthi rebels have intensified attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, raising concerns about global energy supplies.
What Trump Said
"I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not? It's a big decision. Anything could happen with me," Trump told Ravid.
Trump has frequently used forceful rhetoric toward Tehran; in April he said the "whole civilization will die tonight." He also reiterated that the war could end soon and claimed—without presenting independent evidence—that Iran was "two weeks away" from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Diplomacy and Regional Impact
Trump is scheduled to meet leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman on the sidelines of next week's United Nations General Assembly in New York. He told Ravid his forthcoming decision could hinge on what emerges from those talks: "I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them."
Addressing economic consequences, Trump said a resolution of the conflict would likely push energy prices lower: "Oil will come tumbling down when that happens; oil prices will come tumbling down." U.S. energy prices have risen amid higher interest rates and renewed inflation concerns.
On relations with Saudi leadership, Trump added: "I have made a call with MBS. He's a good friend of mine, and it's going to — I can just say everything's going to work out fine and dandy. It's going to be very good."
This article summarizes Mr. Trump's remarks to Axios and the geopolitical context surrounding his comments.
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