US President Donald Trump is seriously considering resuming hostilities in the Middle East, CNN reported citing presidential aides.
Earlier, after a conversation with Trump, Fox News stated that the White House was considering resuming Operation Project Freedom to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with an expanded military role.
Trump is increasingly frustrated with Iran’s stance in the negotiations to resolve the conflict, and he is now more seriously considering resuming large-scale military operations than he has in recent weeks, CNN said.
Sources told the channel that Trump was losing patience with the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed and also believed there was a rift within the Iranian leadership preventing them from making significant concessions on the nuclear issue. According to sources, several groups have now emerged within the US administration, some of which advocate a forceful approach, proposing continued targeted bombing of Iran to weaken Tehran’s position, with others continuing to insist on diplomatic means to resolve the conflict.
Pakistan’s position as a mediator in the US-Iran negotiations remains a separate issue for the US, the broadcaster noted. Citing sources, the channel explains that the US government is unclear how clearly Islamabad is communicating Washington’s position to Tehran, as well as how objectively it is communicating Iran’s viewpoint.
The direction the US will take in the Middle East conflict is still unclear, and a decision is unlikely to be made before Trump’s scheduled visit to China from May 13 to 15, CNN reported citing informed sources.
On February 28, the US and Israel began striking targets in Iran, killing more than 3,000 people.
Washington and Tehran declared a ceasefire on April 8. The subsequent talks in Islamabad ended without result, with no announcement of a resumption of hostilities, but the United States began a blockade of Iranian ports.
