Trump says Iran war decision ‘soon’ as Qatar pushes deal

President Donald Trump said on Thursday, Nov. 5, that he will soon decide whether to resume full-scale war with Iran. He spoke after meeting his national security advisers on Iran for the first time since the midterm elections. "I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I will have to. You'll know soon enough," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, Axios reported.axios.com

The election had been seen as a turning point for whether Trump would order a new wave of bombing to end the war. According to Axios, he is weighing three options for now. He could launch new strikes, keep up economic pressure on Iran's government, or reach a deal that would include major concessions to Tehran. The meeting was held during his weekly intelligence briefing, two U.S. officials told the outlet.axios.com

Military Preparations Continue

U.S. Central Command is finalizing preparations to possibly resume major combat operations, a U.S. official told Axios, although it has not received a new order from Washington. One possible sign of renewed strikes would be a third aircraft carrier strike group arriving in the region. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is due to make a port call in Singapore and is not expected in the Middle East before mid-November.axios.com

Trump also brushed off reports that Iran was reviewing nuclear proposals. "They're not doing anything without our approval," he said, according to The Times of Israel. His comments came two days after Republicans suffered heavy midterm losses, which Trump and Vice President JD Vance have linked to the unpopular war.timesofisrael.com

Qatar's Two-Day Proposal

Diplomatic contacts picked up at the same time. Qatari mediators discussed a draft plan with Iran and the White House in which each side would take steps over two days to build trust, Axios reported. On the first day, the U.S. would lift its naval blockade and release some frozen Iranian funds, and Iran would invite International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to bombed nuclear sites. On the second day, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and talks on its stockpile of highly enriched uranium would resume.axios.com

Trump spoke by phone with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on Friday, Nov. 6, about ending the war, Hürriyet Daily News reported. Neither side has said it accepts any proposal.hurriyetdailynews.com

Tehran is still holding firm. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's top security official, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday. He said that until Washington meets Iran's seven conditions, "neither the Strait of Hormuz will be opened nor will there be any negotiations," according to Axios. The conditions include war reparations, lifting sanctions and ending the blockade, The Times of Israel noted. The U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28, and a shaky truce took hold in April.timesofisrael.com+1