President Trump Says Iran Outcome Coming ‘Fairly Soon’
By The Media Line Staff
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington was not formally negotiating with Tehran but expected an outcome “one way or the other” fairly soon.
Speaking to reporters after returning from a campaign rally in South Carolina, President Trump said, “No, I think we’re not negotiating with — we are going to have something one way or the other. It’ll happen fairly soon.” Regarding the difficulty of talks, he said, “I don’t know who the hell we’re negotiating with’*
The New York Times reported, citing American officials and sources involved in discussions, that the US and Israeli militaries have developed detailed plans to resume strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections. Preparations are advancing for a short, intensive operation likely to target nuclear and energy facilities as well as missile and drone systems, according to the report.
Some American officials believe an intensive three-day attack could inflict economic damage that would force Iran to compromise in negotiations, The New York Times reported.
Meanwhile, NBC reported that the US military has “quietly” reduced troop levels at bases across the Middle East in recent days, while the State Department has ordered additional staff reductions at several diplomatic posts. Two American officials and two sources familiar with the matter said personnel had been evacuated from bases including those in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait “in response to ongoing threats in the region, including from Iran.”
Separately, sources in Jerusalem and Washington told Axios that the IDF conducted a “show of force” near the Iranian border on Monday involving dozens of Air Force aircraft. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the same day.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they attacked four ships in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, claiming the vessels committed violations, traveling through the Strait of Hormuz along an unauthorized route and transferring oil between ships. Iranian authorities said the four vessels caught fire.
The Revolutionary Guards also warned the US against continuing its actions in the region. “The American military must understand that if this trend continues, the scope of the conflict will expand and reach the bases of the aggressors themselves in the region.”
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