President Trump has been briefed on options for a full-scale war against Iran but has opted to continue diplomatic talks for now, according to the Wall Street Journal. Discussions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine involved the possibility of resuming strikes, an option some officials refer to as "finishing the job." However, Trump believes large-scale attacks could disrupt diplomacy and undermine the long-term goal of dismantling Iran's nuclear program. He has also indicated he is comfortable with negotiations extending beyond the August 18 deadline for a nuclear deal, prioritizing a durable agreement.
In the interim, Trump remains content with ordering retaliatory one-off strikes in response to Iran's violations of the memorandum of understanding. This approach led to recent weekend fighting that strained a two-week-old ceasefire. A key sticking point in current indirect negotiations, facilitated by mediators in Doha, is Iran's demand for service fees for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which the U.S. insists should remain free. Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted Iran's lack of cooperation, crediting U.S. military escorts for the rebound in global oil supply.
The U.S. has established a crisis communication line between the IRGC and CENTCOM to manage tensions, though this effort is in its early stages. Trump has previously withdrawn threats of large-scale operations against Iranian civilization and Kharg Island, stating he would only restart full-scale war if American troops were killed. Brookings Institution expert Suzanne Maloney suggests that Trump has other levers, such as delaying access to frozen Iranian funds, but warns of limitations to this middle-ground strategy given Iran's continued ability to disrupt shipping in the Strait.
