Trump undecided on Iran strikes, says Tehran getting 'serious' in talks

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has not made a decision regarding major military strikes against Iran, suggesting Tehran is showing increased seriousness in ongoing negotiations.

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No I haven’t

Trump's comments followed reports of senior advisors discussing a large-scale military operation against Iran. Speaking to journalists, he stated, "No I haven’t," when asked about a decision. He added, "I think they’re getting more and more serious as the days go by, for maybe the obvious reason."

The U.S. has been conducting strikes for nearly two weeks, which have disrupted a ceasefire, stating the objective is to prevent Iran from closing the critical Strait of Hormuz. Iran has retaliated with attacks on U.S. bases, resulting in the deaths of four service members. Trump described the U.S. as "locked and loaded and ready to go" but indicated a preference for continued talks.

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I think they’re getting more and more serious as the days go by, for maybe the obvious reason.

The conflict, now nearing its fifth month, is reportedly impacting Trump's approval ratings ahead of crucial midterm elections in November. Trump reiterated that a potential development of a nuclear weapon by Iran would be his "red line."

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We’re locked and loaded and ready to go. But we’re talking to them, so I think while we’re talking, we’ll see what comes of it.

Earlier reports suggested Trump was considering a "massive attack" on Iran. Separately, Trump doubled down on previous statements, expressing belief that Russia and China are not arming Iran, despite intelligence reports to the contrary. He cited assurances from Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin that they would not provide Tehran with weapons.

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massive attack