Donald Trump said Thursday he was near to a decision on a massive escalation of attacks on Iran as oil hit its highest price in two months and Tehran-backed Houthi rebels opened a new front in the Red Sea.
‘I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before,’ the President told Axios. ‘I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it.’
Trump added that Iran wanted a deal but had not yet felt ‘enough pain’ to properly negotiate.
He did not say when he would finalize his decision.
Trump said that Israel would join the proposed operation “in two minutes if I ask them to.” He stressed that “we don’t need anybody” to help in the campaign against Iran.
Trump also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to be at Senator Lindsey Graham‘s wake in DC next week, and that he would meet with Netanyahu if he comes.
Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel for the first time since May 26 as the war escalates after the collapse of the the tenuous ceasefire between the US and Iran.
The US has carried out strikes on Iran for 12 consecutive nights.