US President Donald Trump said he was nearing a choice between an agreement with Iran and renewed military action, promising to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Washington was increasing its military presence in the Persian Gulf while Iran prepared for possible renewed strikes. Neither a diplomatic agreement nor a decision to resume attacks had been announced.
“We are ensuring Iran will never have — never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said in remarks aired on Bloomberg Television's Horizons Middle East & Africa, published Oct. 26.
“You will see that end quite soon one way or the other.”
Trump put Iran's nuclear programme at the centre of the choice. His remarks left open whether Washington would seek to settle the issue through an agreement or use military force again.
The United States was moving a third aircraft carrier strike group to the region and withdrawing non-essential diplomatic personnel, Bloomberg reported. Other military assets were also being moved around the region.
The preparations had raised expectations of renewed fighting, although the military movements did not establish that Trump had decided to order another attack. The timing of any decision also remained uncertain.
The US midterm election on Nov. 3 was a possible turning point for a decision. There was no announced commitment to act after the vote, and renewed hostilities remained a possibility rather than a settled course.
Iran was preparing to retaliate if the United States attacked again. Statements from within Iran's government pointed to possible attacks on countries it regards as US allies or countries that host American military assets.
That would extend the consequences of another US attack beyond Iran. Tehran's earlier retaliation in March and April targeted about a dozen countries, providing the background for concern about another round of regional attacks.
Attacks on Saudi Arabia continued into the early hours of the morning. The available account did not identify who carried them out or give details of damage or casualties.
The military preparations and Iran's readiness to retaliate left several questions unresolved. Trump did not give a deadline for reaching an agreement, announce terms for a deal or specify when renewed strikes might begin.
His commitment concerned the outcome he wanted for Iran's nuclear programme. The choice of how to achieve it remained open, with diplomacy and further military action both under consideration.
