Will Trump Escalate Military Action Against Iran? Key Insights from His China Visit

Translation result.

[Anchor] After a two-night, three-day visit to China, President Trump still faces the unresolved prospect of a potential war with Iran. His aides say they are drafting contingency plans in case he orders additional strikes. I’m Kim Ji‑soo. [Reporter] With U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks stalled, advisers to the president are preparing for the possibility of renewed military action. U.S. officials in the region have reviewed options to strike Iran’s key military and infrastructure sites and have placed forces on their largest alert posture since the ceasefire took effect. The president has not yet decided on a next move, but discussions have included deploying U.S. Special Operations forces to the ground to locate and neutralize buried nuclear materials. Trump also said Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz and that he is considering lifting sanctions on Chinese firms that import Iranian crude. How much Beijing will cooperate, however, remains unclear. Right after the U.S.-China summit, China criticized the timing and content of U.S. actions and expressed opposition to a U.S. resolution condemning a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. 「Donald Trump / President of the United States」 A lot of things you’ll hear about could happen going forward. It was a tremendous success, right? I think it was a truly historic moment. Iran, meanwhile, appears to be preparing for the possibility of renewed conflict. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran is ready to respond appropriately to any aggression and is prepared for all options. Media reports that the United Arab Emirates struck Iranian territory after the outbreak of hostilities have prompted sharp exchanges between the two countries and heightened tensions across the Gulf. With the November midterm elections approaching, attention is focused on what course President Trump will choose to break the ceasefire stalemate. This is Kim Ji‑soo for Yonhap News TV. [Video editing: Kim Mi‑jung] [News Review] For Yonhap News TV story inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/LINE jebo23 Kim Ji‑soo (goodman@yna.co.kr)