Trump Discusses Major New Wave of Strikes Against Iran to Pressure Nuclear Talks

On July 15, 2026, President Donald Trump held a White House situation room meeting to discuss plans for a new, broader wave of military strikes against Iran. The proposed operations would exceed the current scale of U.S. airstrikes near the Strait of Hormuz. According to three informed sources, Trump is prepared to escalate the conflict significantly to compel Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept his nuclear demands.

The meeting took place amid ongoing U.S. military strikes targeting Iranian air defense systems, missile launch sites, and drone bases along Iran's southern coast and the Strait of Hormuz. These attacks, now in their fourth consecutive day, aim to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in the strategic waterway. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. On Tuesday afternoon, a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports was also implemented.

U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that Iran deliberately attacked civilian vessels in the region last week, causing casualties among nearly a dozen crew members. Despite the tensions, the U.S. coordinated the safe passage of 300 ships through the Strait during the past week.

Attending the meeting were key national security officials including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Kane, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff. The discussion focused on plans for massive strikes on strategic Iranian targets beyond the current operations.

In a Fox News interview before the meeting, Trump warned that U.S. strikes would intensify over the next three days and could escalate further afterward. He specifically mentioned plans to disable Iran’s power stations and bridges to pressure Tehran into negotiations. Trump also highlighted U.S. surveillance of "Pickaxe Mountain," a suspected underground nuclear site in Iran, noting uncertainty about its activity and vulnerability but pledging to strike if any nuclear work is detected.

Trump’s negotiation team reportedly communicated to Iranian officials that Iran must come to the negotiating table or face severe consequences. "I told them: 'You better make a deal or you will have nothing left,'" Trump said.

The White House declined to comment on the meeting or the new strike plans.