President Donald Trump has grown frustrated with the way Iran is negotiating to end the war, and some Trump aides say he is considering resuming major combat operations more seriously than he has in recent weeks.
Sources familiar with the talks said President Trump is growing frustrated with the continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the perception that a divided Iranian leadership is preventing significant concessions in the nuclear talks. Iran’s recent actions, which President Trump has deemed “totally unacceptable” and “stupid,” have led several officials to question whether Tehran is willing to take a serious stance on negotiations.
Officials say there are various factions within the administration recommending alternative ways forward. Some, including Pentagon officials, have advocated a more aggressive approach to pressure Iran to come to the negotiating table, including targeted attacks that would further weaken Iran’s position. But other countries still want diplomacy to be given a fair chance, the officials said.
Many Trump supporters want Pakistani intermediaries to be more direct in their communications with Iranians. Some Trump administration officials have long suspected that the Pakistani side was actively channeling Trump’s dissatisfaction with the state of negotiations, as Trump has done publicly. Some government officials believe Pakistan often shares a more positive position on Iran with the United States than one that reflects reality, two sources said.
Regional countries and Pakistan are urging President Trump to tell Iranians that he is dissatisfied and that this is Tehran’s last chance to engage in serious diplomacy, but Iran doesn’t seem to be listening or taking anyone seriously, regional officials said on Monday.
The official said the United States and Iran were operating on two different tolerances and timelines in their approach to negotiations, and that the Iranian government had endured economic pressure for decades.
President Trump met again with his national security team at the White House on Monday to discuss his options moving forward. A major decision on how to proceed is unlikely to be reached before the president’s scheduled departure for China on Tuesday afternoon, people familiar with the talks said.
CNN’s Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.
