Trump threatens immediate military action against Iran as Vance weighs direct talks
US President Donald Trump has warned that he could use military force against Iran immediately if American allies or ships come under threat, as the administration considers renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
In an interview with the Salem News Channel on Thursday, Trump said he would have “no hesitation” about taking military action if Iran threatened US interests.
Asked whether he would use force to stop Tehran from targeting American allies and vessels, Trump said the United States was currently doing well but added that military action remained an option.
“It’s possible I would do it right now,” he said.
Trump also claimed that Washington had suffered no military fatalities in the previous five months and maintained that US forces had complete control of the Gulf.
Defending the naval blockade against Iran, the president argued that the country's economy and military capabilities were deteriorating rapidly.
He claimed Iran was facing inflation of 301%, that its economy had collapsed and that it was struggling to pay its soldiers. He also said the country's navy and air force had been largely destroyed.
Trump warned that Iran would face severe consequences if it killed a senior American official, saying the country “will not exist very long any longer” in such a scenario.
He also acknowledged that Iran's current leadership remaining in power when he leaves office would represent a defeat for his presidency.
Vance considers direct negotiations with Tehran
Despite Trump's renewed military threats, Washington is also exploring diplomatic channels to bring the conflict to an end.
US Vice President JD Vance is considering face-to-face talks with a senior Iranian security official, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, which cited American and Middle Eastern officials.
Trump has reportedly indicated to aides and foreign counterparts that he would support Vance taking the lead in renewed negotiations with Tehran.
The discussions remain at an early stage, with no meeting date established. However, Washington and Tehran are reportedly communicating through mediators and regional allies.
According to the report, Vance sent a letter in October to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, requesting a meeting.
The potential negotiations carry political risks for Vance, who could face criticism if diplomatic efforts fail. A successful agreement, however, could position him as a central figure in efforts to end the conflict.
The report also said Trump had privately questioned elements of a framework agreement negotiated in June with Vance's involvement, reportedly arguing that it gave Iran time to recover and generate oil revenues before the US naval blockade was imposed.
A White House official rejected claims that Trump had second thoughts about the agreement, saying the negotiators had acted in good faith.
Vance has also linked the war to Republicans' poor performance in recent midterm elections, highlighting growing political pressure on the administration to find a way out of the conflict.
US military denies reports of preparations for renewed strikes
Meanwhile, US Central Command has rejected Israeli media reports suggesting that American forces are preparing for a possible resumption of military operations against Iran.
Responding to Anadolu, a CENTCOM official described claims of changes to the US military posture in the region as “pure speculation” and said there were no updates to American force deployments in the Middle East.
The statement followed a report by Israeli public broadcaster KAN, which claimed that CENTCOM had urged Israel to prepare for a possible return to military operations against Iran in the near future.
According to the report, the message was conveyed to Israeli military representatives in the United States, while Washington was allegedly sending similar warnings to Gulf countries through security channels.
KAN also claimed that approximately 200 aerial refuelling aircraft had been deployed across the Middle East and Europe. It further reported that two aircraft carriers, the USS George Washington and USS George H.W. Bush, were already in the region, with a third, the USS Roosevelt, expected to arrive in the Arabian Sea the following week.
The US military has not confirmed those deployment claims.
Ceasefire efforts remain unresolved
The United States and Israel launched their military offensive against Iran on February 28. A ceasefire followed in April, while Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement in June intended to pave the way for a broader peace settlement.
However, negotiations have yet to produce a final agreement, leaving the conflict's future uncertain.
With Trump maintaining military pressure, Vance exploring possible direct negotiations and CENTCOM dismissing reports of imminent operational changes, Washington appears to be keeping both military and diplomatic options in play.
Source:AA
