Key Takeaways

• War on the table: Trump is more seriously considering resuming major combat operations against Iran, per a CNN report citing sources familiar with the matter.
• Patience wearing thin: The president has grown impatient with the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
• Fractured Iran leadership: Trump sees Iranian leadership as too divided to make progress in nuclear talks.
• Decision delayed: Trump is unlikely to make a major call before his China trip this week.
• 14-point proposal rejected: Trump dismissed Iran’s response to the U.S. peace framework earlier this week.
• Ceasefire on “major life support”: The president’s stark warning about the fragile truce.
• Iran shrugs it off: Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran is “not concerned with the satisfaction of others.”
• Hormuz deadlock: Iran demands the U.S. lift its naval blockade before any nuclear talks proceed.
• Project Freedom revival weighed: Trump said Monday he is considering resuming the operation that triggered renewed military clashes earlier this month.
• Energy infrastructure in crosshairs: Trump has repeatedly threatened strikes on Iran’s energy facilities, though has stopped short so far.

U.S. President Donald Trump is more seriously considering resuming major combat operations against Iran as peace negotiations have dithered, CNN reported on Monday evening.

Trump has grown impatient with the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as what he sees as a fractured Iranian leadership that is preventing meaningful progress in nuclear talks, CNN reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

However, the report said Trump was unlikely to make a major decision on how to proceed before his trip to China later this week.

Peace Talks in Tatters

The CNN report follows Trump’s rejection earlier this week of Iran’s response to a 14-point peace proposal, alongside his warning that the ceasefire with Tehran was on “major life support.”

Reports indicated that Iran had largely downplayed Trump’s rejection, with foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stating that the country was “not concerned with the satisfaction of others.”

The U.S.-Iran standoff in the Strait of Hormuz showed few signs of easing this week, with Tehran demanding that Washington lift its naval blockade of the country before any nuclear talks can take place.

Project Freedom Could Return

Trump has repeatedly threatened additional military action against Iran — particularly against the country’s energy infrastructure. Yet he has stopped short of making good on his threats so far.

The U.S. president said on Monday he was considering resuming an operation to restore commercial shipping in Hormuz. The operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” had sparked renewed military action with Iran earlier this month.