US President Donald Trump has said Washington is considering renewed military strikes against Iran while indicating that American negotiators are expected to hold further talks with Tehran this week.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with Axios as diplomatic efforts continue between the United States and Iran through regional mediators. Qatar and other countries are working to revive negotiations between the two sides, although significant differences remain over key issues.
Trump Says Further Talks Expected
According to Axios, Trump said he expects US negotiators to engage in additional discussions with Iran during the week.
The latest diplomatic efforts follow indirect negotiations held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were involved in discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with Qatari officials helping relay messages between the two sides.
Trump said Iran wants a deal but that the proposal presented by Tehran did not meet Washington’s requirements. He had also said a previous version of such an arrangement might have been acceptable to the United States at an earlier stage.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Key Issue
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the central issues in the negotiations.
Iran has sought discussions focused on the waterway and the US naval blockade, while the Trump administration has been seeking commitments from Tehran on nuclear-related issues. Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal, according to Axios.
The strategically important waterway is a major route for global oil shipments. Trump said US forces were helping facilitate the movement of oil through the strait.
Axios reported that more than 20 million barrels of oil passed through the waterway over the weekend, while a US defence official confirmed that 22 million barrels were exported through the strait on Friday night.
Possibility of Renewed Military Action
Alongside the diplomatic efforts, Trump indicated that military action remains under consideration.
When asked whether he was considering resuming strikes against Iran, Trump said he was “always thinking about it,” according to Axios. This leaves open the possibility of further US military action while negotiations continue.
The comments come after Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal but while regional mediators continue efforts to narrow differences between Washington and Tehran.
Iran Still Signals Interest in Diplomacy
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran remains interested in finding a diplomatic solution.
According to Axios, Araghchi said Iran was still waiting for an official response through mediators following the US rejection of its proposal. He also indicated that Iran remains prepared for negotiations based on its national interests.
Qatari mediators have continued shuttle diplomacy, communicating separately with Iranian and American representatives in an effort to find possible changes to the proposed framework.
Nuclear Issue Remains Central
The nuclear issue is another major point of disagreement between the two countries.
The Trump administration has been demanding nuclear-related concessions from Iran as part of any potential agreement. Earlier negotiations have focused on limiting Iran’s ability to restore nuclear capabilities while addressing wider regional security concerns.
The dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme has remained a central issue in US-Iran relations, alongside the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the US naval blockade.
What Happens Next
The coming days could determine whether diplomatic efforts gain momentum or whether tensions rise further.
US and Iranian representatives are expected to continue discussions through intermediaries, with Qatar playing an important role in facilitating communication. At the same time, Trump’s latest comments indicate that Washington has not ruled out renewed military action.
For now, no new US strike has been announced in the material reviewed, and negotiations remain active through regional mediators. The outcome will depend on whether the two sides can narrow their differences over the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Also read: Trump Says Iran War May End Soon
