A US official confirmed that President Donald Trump has not ruled out further military action against Iran, despite recent diplomatic efforts. During a meeting in Washington, DC, with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani, Trump reiterated that the situation in the Middle East remains volatile. The meeting, held amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, did not yield immediate progress in de-escalating hostilities.
The White House stated that Trump remains committed to a policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran, which includes potential military strikes. This stance follows a series of attacks on Iranian assets in the Gulf, including a recent strike on a petroleum facility near Hormuz. Iranian officials have accused the US of collusion in the attack, claiming the facility was under joint operation with American entities.
Meanwhile, global oil prices have dropped sharply, with Brent crude falling 0.88% to $97.45 and West Texas Intermediate losing 0.51% to $90.37. The decline follows Trump’s public statement that a resumption of military action against Iran is “very unlikely” if negotiations make progress. However, analysts note that the lack of concrete outcomes from recent talks has kept uncertainty high.
The conflict between the US and Iran has escalated since 2019, when Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions. Tensions have risen further after Iran’s ballistic missile tests and attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf. The current standoff reflects a broader geopolitical struggle, with regional allies and global powers closely monitoring developments.
