Trump Divided on Iran: Deal or 'Blow Them Up'?

President Donald Trump expressed a stark dilemma regarding Iran, oscillating between pursuing a "good" deal and resorting to military action. "There's a 50% chance we'll make a good deal, or we'll blow them up," Trump told Axios in a phone interview.

Trump is set to convene with his national security team, including Vice President JD Vance and negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to deliberate on the escalating tensions. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Army chief, General Asim Munir, has been mediating efforts in Tehran to broker an agreement.

Iran's Foreign Ministry indicated a "rapprochement of positions" in recent talks, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting India, suggesting an announcement could be imminent. The core issues revolve around Iran's nuclear program, with Washington demanding an end to uranium enrichment, and the status of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked and seeks to control for transit.

Trump had canceled a weekend trip to his New Jersey golf course to remain in Washington and monitor the negotiations. The U.S. president also warned Iran that it faces "a blow so hard" if a deal isn't reached, a consequence he suggested no country has previously endured.

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There's a 50% chance we'll make a good deal, or we'll blow them up.