President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States is prepared to launch another round of military strikes against Iran if negotiations fail, as regional mediators scramble to secure a deal before a potential U.S.-Israeli offensive following the midterm elections. “We need to finish the job — either through a deal or another way — we will find out if negotiations can succeed,” Trump told Axios.
The warning came as Qatar leads a diplomatic push to convince Tehran to reopen its damaged nuclear facilities to United Nations inspectors in exchange for limited sanctions relief, Axios reported, citing U.S., Israeli and regional sources. Without an agreement, American and Israeli officials are preparing for a possible weeklong bombing campaign targeting Iran’s leadership, nuclear facilities, energy installations, and other infrastructure, Axios reported. Israeli military chief Gen. Eyal Zamir discussed preparations Monday with U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper, according to the report. Qatar’s diplomatic effort has support from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, whose officials are pressing Tehran to accept a deal before military operations resume.
