Trump Considers Renewed Full-Scale War with Iran but Sticks to Diplomacy for Now

According to a Wall Street Journal report, US President Donald Trump recently contemplated resuming a full-scale war with Iran to "finish the job." Over the past days, Trump held multiple discussions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Cane about escalating military strikes against Iran. However, he ultimately decided to continue diplomatic negotiations for the time being.

The talks focused on whether the US should abandon ongoing nuclear deal negotiations and launch large-scale attacks on Iran. Some officials described such a move as "finishing the job." Despite not making a final decision, Trump expressed concerns that another round of major strikes could undermine Washington's chances of dismantling Iran's nuclear program.

Trump also indicated to his aides that he is comfortable allowing the nuclear talks to extend beyond the August 18 deadline, providing more time for progress. Meanwhile, he remains open to authorizing limited, targeted strikes if Iran violates the memorandum of understanding, as has occurred in recent weeks.

This approach reflects a balance between maintaining pressure on Iran through occasional military action and pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear issue.