Trump Weighs New Major Strikes on Iran, Warns He May Have to ‘Destroy the Rest of the Country’

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump warned Thursday, Nov. 5, that the United States could launch another major round of military strikes against Iran, saying he would soon decide whether additional force was necessary to permanently prevent Tehran from rebuilding its nuclear weapons capabilities.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office following high-level national security meetings, Trump said the administration was weighing military action alongside diplomatic proposals intended to bring the conflict to an end.

“Now we will make a decision,” Trump said as he considered whether to order further strikes against Iranian targets.

“I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I’ll have to,” he added. “You’ll know soon enough.”

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The president’s remarks followed meetings with senior national security advisers Wednesday and Thursday, during which officials examined options ranging from renewed military operations to continued economic pressure and a negotiated settlement.

According to Axios’ Nov. 5 report, U.S. Central Command was completing preparations for a possible resumption of major combat operations but had not received a new order from Washington.

The administration’s options reportedly include another military offensive, maintaining existing sanctions and the naval blockade, or accepting a diplomatic arrangement involving concessions by both governments.

Trump suggested that additional strikes could be intended to ensure Iran would never again possess the ability to develop nuclear weapons.

“In Iran… we control everything that we want to control,” Trump told reporters, claiming that the damage already inflicted on the country would take approximately 25 years to repair.

The president’s assessment of Iran’s remaining military and nuclear capabilities could not be independently confirmed.

The United States and Israel have conducted extensive military operations against Iran since the conflict escalated in February 2026, targeting nuclear infrastructure, military facilities and other strategic sites.

Trump has repeatedly asserted that the campaign severely damaged Iran’s nuclear program, while maintaining that remaining facilities could require further action.

During remarks Oct. 31, the president said the United States still had one or two potential targets to address, including an underground complex known as Pickaxe Mountain.

The Iranian government has denied conducting nuclear activities at that location.

Despite the threats of additional attacks, diplomatic negotiations remain underway.

According to The Times of Israel’s reporting, officials from the United States and Iran were reviewing proposals conveyed by Qatari-led mediators concerning Tehran’s nuclear program.

An Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had submitted a proposal through Qatar but would discuss an agreement only if Washington addressed seven demands presented in August.

Those conditions reportedly include compensation for war damage, the release of frozen Iranian assets, sanctions relief, termination of the U.S. naval blockade, withdrawal of American forces from the region, a permanent end to the conflict and assurances against future military threats.

The administration has not publicly agreed to those conditions.

Regional mediators have also discussed a phased arrangement under which Washington would ease certain economic restrictions while Iran permitted international nuclear inspectors to return to facilities damaged during the war.

The proposed sequence could include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming negotiations over Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The waterway is a major international energy shipping route, and restrictions on maritime traffic have contributed to disruptions in global oil markets.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has maintained contact with regional governments involved in mediation, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Egypt.

Meanwhile, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, traveled to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The diplomatic activity reflects continued efforts to negotiate an agreement before the conflict escalates further.

Trump, however, questioned whether Iranian officials could proceed without American consent.

“They’re not doing anything without our approval,” he said when asked about Tehran’s consideration of diplomatic proposals.

“It doesn’t make a difference what they’re looking at. They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.”

The renewed threat comes immediately after Tuesday’s midterm elections, which delivered major congressional gains to Democrats and intensified criticism of the administration’s handling of the Iran war.

Vice President JD Vance has acknowledged that public dissatisfaction with the conflict contributed to Republican electoral losses.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the campaign Thursday, describing it as a necessary effort to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

He also urged lawmakers to support the administration’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget, which includes funding for military readiness and ongoing operations.

Hegseth faces renewed impeachment threats and congressional scrutiny following the election, although Trump publicly reaffirmed his support for the Pentagon chief.

The possibility of additional strikes has also raised concerns among neighboring countries.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi told Trump during a Thursday telephone conversation that Iraqi territory should not be used to launch military operations against neighboring states, according to Fox News’ coverage of the administration’s deliberations.

U.S. officials have not identified specific targets or announced a timetable for any renewed offensive.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group is expected to reach the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility later in November, potentially expanding available military capabilities.

Although officials have discussed operational readiness, military preparations do not establish that the president has authorized another attack.

Any renewed strikes could further complicate negotiations and increase tensions across the Middle East, where the conflict has already affected shipping, energy supplies and regional security.

Congressional Democrats have called for greater oversight of the administration’s military objectives and have previously introduced measures seeking to restrict further U.S. involvement without congressional authorization.

Those efforts have not prevented the administration from continuing its existing military operations.

For now, Washington’s decision remains unresolved.

Trump’s Thursday remarks made clear that the administration is considering another substantial military offensive while leaving open the possibility of a diplomatic agreement.

With U.S. forces preparing for potential operations and negotiators reviewing proposals, the president said the next step would become clear soon, without announcing whether additional strikes had been authorized.