President Donald Trump said he faces a “big decision coming up” on Iran, telling an interviewer he was weighing whether “to go in and annihilate them” as the U.S. war shows no sign of subsiding.
Trump made the remarks in a phone interview with journalist Barak Ravid, according to reporting by The Hill and Axios, and used the phrase “It’s a big decision” while discussing possible next steps, the accounts say.
The comments landed amid continuing U.S. military activity in and around Iran; The Hill reported the war “shows no signs of subsiding,” and said Trump’s comments came as domestic energy prices and geopolitical questions remain part of the debate.
Donald Trump’s remarks have been replayed across outlets, with the Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post quoting the same language and attributing the interview to Ravid. Analysts quoted in coverage say the phrasing raised questions about whether the president is weighing a major escalation.
The president’s statements on Iran follow months of U.S. military and diplomatic moves that coverage says have failed to produce a clear end to the conflict; reporting from NBC and AP earlier this year traced how strikes and blockades have shaped the current stalemate.
As the White House and lawmakers consider options, the choice Trump described — whether to launch larger strikes or to refrain — is the immediate decision policymakers and markets will watch, according to the outlets that covered the interview.
Sources
- The Hill — reported Trump said he has a “big decision coming up” and that the U.S. war shows no sign of subsiding.
- Axios — attributed the interview to journalist Barak Ravid and quoted Trump saying “Do I want to go in and annihilate them, or do I not?”
- Times of Israel — reproduced the interview language and carried related reporting on reactions in Washington and Jerusalem.
