As the Trump administration weighs the possibility of resuming airstrikes against Iran, officials in Washington have moved with urgency. On May 22, President Trump convened a senior national security meeting and canceled plans to attend his eldest son’s wedding, remaining at the White House instead.
On May 23, Yonhap reported that U.S. outlets including Axios and CBS News said Trump is seriously considering ordering a new airstrike if Iran does not soon accept the “final offer” the United States delivered on May 20.
That morning, Trump met with his national security team — including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — to review the status of talks and discuss response scenarios if negotiations collapse. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was traveling in Europe, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Kane did not attend due to scheduling conflicts.
Unnamed sources cited by Axios said Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the negotiations over the past several days. According to those sources, he emphasized a diplomatic solution during a May 19 call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but began leaning toward ordering strikes overnight on May 21.
There has been no clear signal that Trump has made a final decision to resume military action. On May 22, he said Iran “wants a deal badly” and that he would continue to monitor the situation.
Tensions within the U.S. government have risen. With Memorial Day weekend approaching on May 25, many government officials canceled personal plans. Trump, after a speech in New York, called off plans to spend the holiday at a New Jersey golf club and returned to the White House.
On his Truth Social account, Trump said he would miss his eldest son Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding to Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas “because of government-related matters and responsibility to the United States,” adding that he had decided it was important to remain at the White House during this critical time.
Defense and intelligence officials have moved into emergency response mode to prepare for potential Iranian retaliation. Authorities are updating recall rosters for overseas bases to account for rotations of forces stationed in the Middle East.
Since entering a temporary cease-fire on April 8, the U.S. and Iran have continued indirect talks aimed at reaching an agreement, but negotiations remain difficult. On May 22, Iran’s foreign ministry said talks were ongoing but not close to a deal, and Tasnim, a media outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that discussions over core issues continue.
Mediators have also stepped up efforts to prevent a return to war. Pakistan Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on May 22, and a Qatari delegation has joined to support the negotiations. A U.S. official described the talks as painful, saying they have produced little more than exchanged drafts and no major progress.
Iran, for its part, has not backed down. On May 22, its foreign ministry reiterated that talks were ongoing but not nearing agreement.
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