President Donald Trump has put military strikes back on the menu if nuclear negotiations with Iran collapse, warning that a “full, large-scale assault” could be launched on short notice. The statement, made on May 19, adds a layer of urgency to what Trump himself described just days later as a deal that was “largely negotiated.”
The state of play between Washington and Tehran
By May 23, Trump indicated that an agreement covering Iran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was close to completion. Trump urged negotiators not to rush the process, even as a US blockade of Iranian ports remains firmly in place.
The Strait of Hormuz matters because roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through it.
The US and Israel have already conducted strikes on Iranian facilities dating back to February, creating significant instability in the region.
