Trump Holds Situation Room Meeting, Weighs Large-Scale Operation in Iran

Hours after threatening to “strike again hard today” against the Islamic Republic, President Donald Trump held a meeting with senior administration and military officials, according to two American sources.

According to the sources, one option Trump is considering is a large-scale but short-term operation aimed at pressuring Tehran to change its position in the negotiations. The sources did not provide additional details.

On Wednesday, Qatari mediators held talks with senior Iranian officials in Tehran in an effort to revive momentum for the agreement that the United States and Iran have been negotiating for weeks. In the absence of a breakthrough, additional American strikes could come soon.

The United States attacked Iranian radar sites and air defense systems on Tuesday night in response to the downing of an American helicopter, but the strikes were planned to avoid casualties and leave room for an agreement.

The Situation Room meeting was attended by Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, White House envoy Steve Witkoff and other senior officials, according to the sources. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took part in the discussion from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

“If they don’t make a deal, we will hit them hard,” Hegseth told troops during his visit to Florida, echoing Trump’s remarks earlier in the day.

Trump has grown increasingly frustrated after nearly two weeks of waiting for an Iranian response to his latest proposal. So far, no such reply has been received. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.