[CBC News] President Donald Trump is weighing a resumption of airstrikes against Iran, heightening tensions in Washington.
On May 22 (local time), Axios and CBS News reported that President Trump is seriously considering additional strikes if Iran rejects the \”final offer\” the U.S. delivered on May 20.
That morning at the White House, Trump convened a high-level national security meeting to review the progress of negotiations and contingency plans should talks collapse. Attendees included Vice President J.D. Vance; Defense Secretary Pete Hegses; CIA Director John Ratcliffe; and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Kane were absent due to scheduling conflicts.
Multiple sources said the president has recently voiced deep frustration over the stalled negotiations. They said he favored a diplomatic route during a May 19 call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but by the night of May 21 he had shifted toward military options. Sources added he discussed declaring a \”decisive victory\” after a large-scale operation.
Since the temporary cease-fire that began on April 8, the U.S. has pursued indirect talks. On May 20 it presented a final offer to Iran and warned that military action could resume if Iran rejected it. On May 22, Trump said, \”Iran wants a deal,\” but his final decision remained unclear.
The heightened alert has disrupted holiday plans. With Memorial Day weekend approaching on May 25, many government officials canceled personal schedules. Trump abandoned plans to rest in New Jersey after a speech in New York and returned to the White House. He also announced on Truth Social that he would cancel plans to attend his eldest son Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding.
Defense and intelligence agencies are preparing for possible retaliation, updating overseas base muster lists to align with rotations of U.S. forces deployed in the Middle East.
Diplomatic efforts are proceeding in parallel. Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir visited Tehran on May 22, and a Qatari delegation has offered mediation support. Munir is scheduled to meet IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi on May 23.
But the talks remain deadlocked. Iran’s foreign ministry said a deal is not imminent, and Tasnim News, which is linked to the IRGC, reported that contentious issues continue to be debated. U.S. officials likewise said that exchanging drafts has produced only limited progress.
Axios warned that the next 24 hours could prove pivotal and assessed that, absent unexpected developments, President Trump is tilting toward military action.
★ Vote in the Netizen Awards ▶
★ Live breaking news – CBC News on Telegram ▶
▮ CBC News | CBCNEWS Reporter Ha Young-soo
Most Commented