US President Donald Trump says he is approaching a major decision on the next phase of the war with Iran, as tensions in the Middle East rise following an Iranian Revolutionary Guard claim that its forces struck an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump made the comments in an interview with Axios on Thursday, September 17, saying he was considering whether to resume large-scale military operations against Iran in an attempt to bring the conflict to an end.
The US president described the choice as a major one, indicating that Washington could either intensify its military campaign or pursue another course.
Trump’s comments came only a day after he said the United States was “hopefully toward the end” of the conflict and claimed that he had spoken directly with Iranian officials.
However, there has been no public confirmation from Tehran that direct negotiations with Washington have resumed. Al Jazeera reported that an Iranian official had rejected talks unless Iran’s conditions were met.
The uncertainty over the next US move comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the conflict.
The waterway is one of the world’s most important energy routes, with a substantial share of global oil and gas shipments normally passing through it. Restrictions on shipping have already contributed to higher energy prices and increased concerns about global supply disruptions.
On Friday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said it had struck a Togo-flagged oil tanker named Trend while the vessel was attempting what Tehran described as an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iran’s state media and the IRGC, the tanker caught fire and was forced to stop following the strike. The Iranian military said the vessel had been encouraged by the United States to attempt the passage and repeated its warning that ships attempting to transit the waterway without Iranian permission could face attack.
The reported incident has not been independently verified in full. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported a separate maritime security incident near Khasab, Oman, but said the crew members were safe and there were no confirmed reports of environmental damage.
The latest tanker incident adds to a series of confrontations involving commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict intensified.
The United States has been assisting some commercial vessels navigating the region, while Iran has sought to restrict passage through the waterway amid its confrontation with Washington.
Trump’s latest comments also come as the US prepares for discussions with Gulf Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman are expected to discuss the conflict and its regional implications with the US president.
The Gulf states have previously expressed concerns about the consequences of further escalation, particularly the possibility of Iranian attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the region. According to Axios, such concerns contributed to Trump’s decision earlier in August to hold back from restarting major combat operations.
Meanwhile, the conflict has expanded beyond the immediate US-Iran confrontation. Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen have launched attacks against Saudi Arabia, while fighting and attacks involving regional actors have added pressure to energy infrastructure and shipping routes.
The developments have left the next phase of the conflict uncertain.
Trump has indicated that a decision on whether to intensify the US military campaign is approaching, while Tehran continues to maintain its position on access through the Strait of Hormuz.
For international markets and countries dependent on imported energy, the situation is being closely monitored because prolonged disruption of the waterway could affect oil supplies, shipping costs and energy prices.
For now, there is no publicly announced agreement ending the conflict, while diplomatic contacts and military preparations continue simultaneously.
