Trump ‘close to making a decision’ on ‘massive attack’ against Iran

Administration Trump ‘close to making a decision’ on ‘massive attack’ against Iran Comments: by Sarah Davis - 07/23/26 12:47 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Sarah Davis - 07/23/26 12:47 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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President Trump said Thursday that he is weighing a significant escalation in combat operations against Iran following the U.S. military’s 12th day of consecutive strikes Wednesday.

The president told Axios that he is “considering a massive attack” against the country that would be “bigger than ever before.”

“I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” Trump told Axios reporter Barak Ravid in a brief interview.

The president told the outlet that Israel, which jointly launched the conflict’s initial strikes with the U.S. on Feb. 28, would join these new military operations “in two minutes if I ask them to.” However, he added that the U.S. does not “need anybody” for a potential next attack.

Earlier on Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Trump’s military stance toward Tehran as a “head for an eye.”

Rubio made the comment to reporters at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’s 2026 annual summit in Manila, Philippines, in response to a threat from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Tehran’s defense strategy against the U.S. was an “eye for an eye.”

“The president’s policy is a head for an eye,” Rubio said. “I mean honestly, that’s what it’s going to be. I mean, they [Iran] will pay a very heavy price for the things they’re doing.”

The U.S. military completed a 12th consecutive day of strikes against Tehran Wednesday evening, according to U.S. Central Command. Both sides have accused the other of violating the ceasefire agreement adopted under a memorandum of understanding last month.

Trump told Axios that the Iranians “want to negotiate” but that they are not yet prepared to reach a final agreement.

“They haven’t received enough pain yet,” he said.