The phone call came hours after Trump met with senior military commanders at the White House to review strike options. The Wall Street Journal reported the conversation focused on whether to halt or resume offensive operations, with Trump reportedly leaving the decision pending. It’s a delicate balancing act. Washington wants to keep the pressure on Tehran without triggering a full-scale regional war just before the midterm elections.
Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters after the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Georgia, pushed back on the idea that diplomacy is dead. “There are multiple talks; talks have actually never stopped,” he said. He emphasized that any deal must address Iran’s nuclear program and its support for proxy groups. When pressed on a timeline, Rubio refused to give one. “He hasn’t made a decision,” he said of the President, adding that the US could achieve its military objectives if it chose to, but preferred a diplomatic exit.
On the ground, the military posture tells a different story. The Jerusalem Post reported that more than 3,000 American troops are currently stationed in Israel. Last week, ten US Air Force transport aircraft landed at bases in southern Israel, carrying air defense systems from Fort Bliss, Texas. Other planes in the same convoy landed in Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Israeli defense officials believe Iran won’t accept a deal that forces it to abandon ballistic missiles, viewing the talks as a way to stall until the US political landscape shifts.
Tehran is reading the signals differently. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s top security official, told state broadcaster IRIB that the tone of a recent letter from Vice President JD Vance had “shifted completely.” He called it a sign of Iranian victory. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the overture as a “positive step” and confirmed an aide traveled to Doha for consultations. Al Jazeera reports a meeting could happen within a week, possibly in Doha or Istanbul. The ball is in Trump’s court. If he doesn’t order strikes before the midterms, the next move likely belongs to the Iranians.