United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that it is nearly time to decide whether to make a deal with Iran or restart attacks on the country.
His comments came as threats from Iran and from the Houthi militants in Yemen against Americans in the Middle East kept growing, Moneyweb reported.
“I have a decision to make: Do I finish it off, which would be very easy to do, or do I make a deal? That’s all,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures. “We don’t play games.”
Later on Sunday, as he left the White House, Trump told reporters there would be no strike that day.
Trump has suggested that US strikes on Iran could start again after the midterm elections on 3 November. He has also sent more forces toward the Persian Gulf, including a third aircraft carrier group.
Officials have warned that the time between the election and the new Congress taking office could be very dangerous. They see a negotiated deal as the most likely way to end the conflict.
The US is cutting the number of diplomats and military staff in parts of the Middle East. At first, the State Department only confirmed that diplomats were leaving Saudi Arabia.
However, an American official told Bloomberg News on Friday that staffing changes were happening more widely. This is because Iran has stepped up attacks on ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthis have struck the airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, many times. The airport reopened for commercial flights on Sunday.
According to shipping and maritime security officials, Iran is now attacking more ships in or near the Strait of Hormuz than earlier in the conflict. The damage is also worse, because Iran is now using guided missiles instead of attack drones.
A person familiar with the thinking in Tehran said Iran is preparing for a new US bombing campaign around the time of the midterms. The person said Iran plans to hit back across the Middle East, including against Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
“All indications point to a resumption of war and a major bombing campaign, although the timing remains uncertain,” said Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution.
Israel launched the war against Iran together with the US. It also has its own political matters to consider.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made a stop in Israel that was not announced in advance. He met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days before the Israeli leader faces a hard fight for reelection.
The Israeli election is the first since the Hamas attacks in 2023, which led to Netanyahu’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Israelis vote on Tuesday. If Netanyahu loses, his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, may be less keen to start his term by restarting the war with Iran, Moneyweb reported.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Moneyweb. Image: Moneyweb. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.