Trump Says Decision on 'Massive' Iran Attack Is Near

President Donald Trump said Thursday he is nearing a decision on whether to launch a "massive attack" against Iran, a strike he described as "bigger than ever before." Speaking to the Axios news site, Trump stated, "I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it." The remarks come as oil prices surged past $100 per barrel again, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East, including Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers in the Red Sea.

Oil Prices and Houthi Threats

The president's comments followed earlier threats of "major military punishment" against Iran and the Houthis after the Iran-backed Yemeni militia struck two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea. The attacks raised concerns about the safety of a key maritime route connecting the Suez Canal to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Lloyd's List Intelligence, a maritime data firm, warned that the Houthi assaults put Saudi oil shipments from the Red Sea port of Yanbu at risk, creating a "double whammy" on top of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ships have begun turning back from the Bab el-Mandeb strait after the Houthis announced a blockade of Saudi ports.

UN Warns of Unimaginable Consequences

UN Secretary General António Guterres told the Security Council that the Middle East is being pushed to the "edge of the unimaginable." He described the situation as "getting out of control" and warned that "one crisis feeds another. One escalation triggers the next." Guterres added that as the dynamic spreads, political objectives become increasingly obscured by confrontation itself. His remarks underscored growing international alarm over the trajectory of the conflict.

Regional and International Reactions

The UK announced it would temporarily withdraw diplomatic staff from Iran, while Germany said it would pull two vessels from the Red Sea. Israeli cities opened bomb shelters, and the U.S. State Department warned Americans in the region that flights could be canceled. Trump also clarified that any U.S. assistance for Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program would require the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, a condition Saudi Arabia has long resisted without progress on Palestinian rights. It emerged later that Trump had not discussed this condition with Saudi leaders.

Separately, Reuters reported that Iran had sent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel and drone parts to the Houthis on a flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13, as Tehran called for the Houthis to blockade the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This development, citing four sources including two Iranians, added to fears of a widening conflict.

What Comes Next

Trump acknowledged that a decision to launch a massive attack would have consequences, but he said he has not yet made a final determination. He added that Israel would "join in two minutes" if asked, before saying, "We don't need anybody." As oil markets react and shipping routes face threats, the world watches closely. The president's decision could reshape the conflict and push the region closer to the abyss Guterres described. With both military and diplomatic moves in play, the next steps will determine whether further escalation can be avoided.