Trump Considers Strikes on Iran as Ceasefire Draft Emerges

(MENAFN) The Trump administration is actively preparing for a new wave of military strikes against Iran even as diplomatic channels remain open, multiple U.S. media outlets reported Friday, citing sources with direct knowledge of the deliberations.

U.S. President Donald Trump convened senior national security officials Friday to chart a path forward in the ongoing conflict with Iran, though the high-level meeting concluded without a definitive decision, a source familiar with the proceedings told media.

Trump is giving serious consideration to launching fresh strikes against Iran unless a last-minute diplomatic breakthrough materializes, media reported Friday, drawing on sources who have spoken directly with the president. A source close to Trump told media he has floated the idea of a concluding "decisive" large-scale military operation — one after which he could declare victory and bring the conflict to a close — though no final decision appears imminent.

Negotiations, meanwhile, are showing little sign of momentum. A U.S. official briefed on the diplomatic efforts described the talks as "agonizing" as drafts are "going back and forth every day" without much progress, according to media.

In a striking departure from his weekend plans, Trump on Friday abruptly canceled a trip to his New Jersey golf resort and announced he would also miss his son's wedding in the Bahamas, opting to remain in Washington amid what he described as "circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America."

"I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time," Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

As tensions mounted, a broadcaster reported via social media Friday that a finalized draft agreement between the United States and Iran — brokered through Pakistan — could be announced within hours. According to media sources, key provisions include an immediate, comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire on all fronts, mutual commitment not to target military, civilian or economic infrastructure, and an end to military operations and media war.

Adding to the diplomatic activity, delegations from Qatar and Pakistan reportedly traveled to Tehran on Friday in a bid to help broker an end to the U.S.-Iran conflict.

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