President Trump to Barak Ravid: “Considering a massive attack”

President Trump told me today (Thursday) in a short telephone interview that he is seriously considering returning to a broad war against Iran, and launching an attack that will be bigger than Operation “Epic Fury”.

• Trump said that he was aware that such a decision would have significant consequences, and emphasized that he had not yet made a final decision.
• Trump did not specify when he would make a decision, and two other senior American officials confirmed that no decision had yet been made and that no new instructions had been given to the army.
• The current escalation has already pushed the price of oil back up to $100 a barrel, and a return to all-out war against Iran is unpopular with the American public.

• “I’m considering a massive attack. Bigger than anything in the past. I’m close to making a decision. We’re fully prepared for it,” Trump said in the short interview.
• Trump said that Israel “will join in two minutes if I ask it to,” but added that “we don’t need anyone” to launch a new operation against Iran.
• He also said that there would be “consequences” for Israel joining the attacks against Iran, hinting at an Iranian response against Israel.

• Trump said that the Iranians “want to negotiate”, but at this point are not ready to reach a deal. “They haven’t suffered enough pain yet,” he said.
• Two regional sources familiar with the mediation efforts said that the Iranian leadership has not yet agreed to the latest proposal presented by the regional mediators.
• “We are trying, but the Iranians are not cooperating,” said one of the regional sources.

• The United States has gradually increased its attacks against Iran over the past 12 days, in an attempt to stop Iranian attacks against merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
• So far the Iranians have not shown any willingness to change their policy, and have even continued to escalate the attacks in the region.
• The Houthi rebels in Yemen, supported by Iran, began attacking Saudi ships in the Red Sea, thus exacerbating tensions in another major oil shipping route and further destabilizing the global energy market.
• Trump wrote on his Truth Social account that if the Houthis return to firing at vessels in the Red Sea, “the United States will hold Iran responsible for this.”
• According to him, the Houthis are an extension of Iran, therefore “Iran – and of course the Houthis themselves – will suffer heavy military punishment.”

• Trump said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is interested in attending the funeral service of Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington next week.
• “The relationship with Bibi is very good. I will meet with him if he is in town,” said Trump.