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 US airstrikes near the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to inflict significant damage to compel Iran to reopen the strategic waterway and accept Trump's nuclear demands. The meeting included senior national security officials such as Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Cane, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff.

The US military has conducted continuous strikes for four days targeting Iranian air defenses, missile launch sites, and drone bases along the southern coast and near the Strait of Hormuz. These attacks aim to degrade Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the vital maritime corridor. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at US bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. On the same day, a US naval blockade of Iranian ports was implemented. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that Iran deliberately attacked seven commercial vessels in the region over the past week, causing nearly a dozen civilian casualties.

Trump told Fox News before the meeting that US strikes would intensify over the next three days, targeting power plants and bridges to cripple Iran’s infrastructure unless Tehran agrees to negotiations. He also highlighted US surveillance of "Pickaxe Mountain," a suspected underground nuclear facility that may be protected from airstrikes. Trump claimed US bunker-buster bombs could penetrate deep underground and warned that any detected activity there would trigger a powerful strike.

Additionally, Trump revealed that his negotiation team had communicated with Iranian officials on Tuesday, urging them to come to the negotiating table or face severe consequences. "I told them: 'You better make a deal, or you will have nothing left,'" he said. The White House declined to comment further on the meeting or military plans.

This escalation underscores the US administration's readiness to intensify military pressure on Iran to achieve strategic and diplomatic objectives concerning nuclear development and regional security.