Trump says he's 'unlikely' to renew attacks on Iran if talks show progress

President Trump stated it is "highly unlikely" he will order a new military escalation against Iran if upcoming peace talks show progress regarding Tehran's nuclear program and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to The Hill and the Jerusalem Post, Trump noted that any decision to resume hostilities depends on whether a "very strong agreement" is signed. DW English (Top Stories) and DW News reported that Trump made these comments following weeks of rumors regarding potential strikes by the US and Israel.

Trump suggested that economic pressure might force Iranian leaders to accept a deal on US terms, claiming the nation is "withering away financially" and facing 301% inflation, according to Free Malaysia Today. During a CNN interview, Trump mentioned that the US could destroy 38 Iranian bridges in one hour but noted he would prefer not to strike infrastructure because bridges are difficult to rebuild.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel prepared for the possibility of a US strike over the weekend, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting with security officials on Friday, though no order was issued. The publication also noted that the US military was preparing for a potential renewed operation and that Trump had given Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials a few days to reach an agreement.

Free Malaysia Today reported that Trump previously acknowledged the unpopularity of the war with Iran contributed to his Republican Party's defeat in the recent midterm elections.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Hill, DW English (Top Stories), DW News, Free Malaysia Today, Jerusalem Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.