Amid the continuing stalemate prevailing over the talks between Washington and Tehran, US President Donald Trump held a meeting with senior members of his national security team to discuss the future course of the war with Iran, at a time when reports revealed that the Pentagon was preparing military plans and a bank of targets in anticipation of any possible escalation.
According to what CNN reported from an informed source, the meeting was held on Saturday at Trump’s private golf club in Virginia, after his return from China, with the participation of Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Reports indicated that Trump and his team had previously postponed making a final decision on how to deal with Iran during his visit to Beijing, awaiting the results of his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In recent days, according to sources, Trump has begun to think more seriously about resuming large-scale military operations against Iran as a means of pressure to push it towards a settlement that ends the war, despite his continued preference for a diplomatic solution.
This meeting comes after a remarkable escalation in Trump’s statements towards Tehran, and with his increasing anger over the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on global oil prices, in addition to the faltering negotiation path.
In parallel, reports revealed a phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while an Israeli official confirmed the activation of an additional air bridge to transport weapons and ammunition from the United States to Israel during the past 24 hours.
The official added that Israel and the United States may launch a joint attack on Iran as soon as they receive the “green light” from Trump, according to what was reported by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.
On the other hand, Tehran still adheres to what it describes as “red lines,” most notably the refusal to transfer highly enriched uranium to the United States, and demanding compensation for war damage, in addition to adhering to the right to enrichment, while keeping the issue of suspending enrichment for specific years debatable.
According to the sources, Trump is expected to hold a new meeting with his national security team this week, while the Pentagon has prepared a series of military plans that may include targeting energy and infrastructure sites inside Iran, if a decision is taken to carry out additional strikes.
