Trump: Iran has two options now

The United States has halted its daily strikes against Iran, with President Donald Trump stating he has not yet made a decision on whether to launch significant retaliatory actions. This pause comes as the regional conflict widens, with Houthi rebels in Yemen claiming responsibility for a missile attack on Gizan, a city in southern Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, of "dangerous escalation" after Riyadh attacked Houthi targets on Friday. The rebels had previously announced a naval blockade of the oil-producing nation and attacked its ships in the Red Sea. The recent escalation signifies a new front in the wider regional war, which intensified after U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in February. This is compounded by Iran's ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the only other maritime route for Saudi Arabia.

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No, I have not made that decision.

Trump suggested that Iran faces a choice between reaching an agreement or facing "much bigger" strikes. He indicated that Iran is now taking negotiations with Washington "more seriously." The conflict, now nearing its fifth month, is impacting Trump's approval ratings ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November. Trump reiterated that his red line would be Iran developing a nuclear weapon, though he did not specify a "breaking point" for making a decision on further military action.

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Look, we are talking to them now. I think they are getting more serious with time, perhaps for obvious reasons.