WASHINGTON: The Trump-Iran war decision is nearing a critical point as President Donald Trump prepares to consult six Gulf leaders before deciding whether to resume major U.S. attacks.
Trump told Axios on September 17 that he had a “big decision coming up” over the next phase of the conflict. He said regional allies’ views would influence his decision.
The planned meeting will include representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
Axios reported that officials expect the talks to take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The U.N. General Assembly’s high-level week runs through late September, with the general debate scheduled from September 22 to 28.
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Trump has repeatedly left open both military and diplomatic options. In his latest Axios interview, he described the choice in unusually stark terms while stopping short of announcing a decision or new military orders.
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Meanwhile, new satellite analysis has drawn attention to Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain site near the Natanz nuclear complex.
The Institute for Science and International Security said September 11 imagery showed earthen roadblocks still restricting access to western tunnel portals. It also identified additional soil over some entrances, which the institute assessed as passive defensive measures.
Read: Trump Warns Iran Over Activity at Pickaxe Mountain Site
The institute said restricted access suggested the facility was not operating normally at the time, although equipment or materials appeared to remain inside. It did not establish that Iran was carrying out nuclear activity there.
The Trump administration will therefore leave the Iran war decision unresolved until after further consultations with Gulf partners. The White House has not publicly announced a final course of action.
