President Donald Trump weighs a potential massive military strike on Iran as negotiations continue amid a 13-day aerial campaign.
President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the United States is "locked and loaded" for a possible major strike on Iran, though he noted that "serious" negotiations are currently ongoing. The administration announced that while Tehran appears to be getting more serious in talks, the U.S. remains prepared to escalate the military campaign if necessary. The conflict has seen the U.S. pummel Iran for 13 consecutive nights, targeting military command centers, drone storage, and coastal defenses. These strikes have aimed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global energy supplies. While the U.S. has hit infrastructure and logistics deep within Iran, Tehran has retaliated by striking U.S. bases in Jordan and Bahrain. President Donald Trump expressed confidence in the current progress, stating the war is "going extremely well" and that the U.S. has hit Iran hard. He also warned that the U.S. may use Iran's frozen assets to pay for repairs if Tehran continues to attack shipping vessels.