Trump Weighs Renewed Iran Strikes but Keeps Nuclear Talks Alive for Now

Key Facts

Published: July 1, 2026 Location: Washington D.C. Source: Wall Street Journal

• President Trump has considered a return to large-scale strikes on Iran but has chosen to keep diplomatic talks alive for now.
• U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Doha for indirect talks with Iran through Qatari mediators.
• Washington and Tehran remain divided over Iran’s nuclear program and Tehran’s demand for billions in fees from ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump has discussed the possibility of resuming full-scale military strikes against Iran but has decided, for now, to continue pursuing diplomacy, according to U.S. officials cited in an exclusive report by The Wall Street Journal.

The discussions reportedly involved Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, with military options presented for renewed airstrikes against Iranian military sites. Some officials described the concept as “finishing the job,” following previous U.S. strikes that severely damaged Iran’s missile, drone, and weapons-production capabilities.

However, Trump has told aides that another round of broad attacks could undermine negotiations and reduce Washington’s chances of dismantling Iran’s nuclear program through a deal. He has also indicated he is willing to let talks continue beyond an Aug. 18 deadline if progress is still possible.

Publicly, Trump has maintained that diplomacy remains his preferred path, while warning that military options remain on the table if Tehran refuses to comply.

“They’re agreeing to everything that I want, and they have to,” Trump told reporters last week. “Otherwise, we just go back and do what we have to do.”

The renewed diplomacy comes as Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Doha on Tuesday for another round of indirect talks with Iran through Qatari mediators. Technical experts from both countries are also expected to participate in discussions this week.

Major obstacles remain. Iran is reportedly demanding billions of dollars in service fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. insists the strategic waterway must remain open and free for international transit. Tehran has also resisted severe restrictions on its nuclear program, despite Trump’s insistence that Iran has already committed to such terms.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Tuesday that Iran has not yet shown meaningful cooperation.

“Iran has not been cooperative at all yet,” Wright said on Fox News, adding that the U.S. military presence has helped restore global oil flows. “With or without Iran, we will ensure energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.”

The White House has also sought to reduce the risk of accidental escalation by establishing a crisis communication channel between U.S. Central Command and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Officials said the channel is already open, though some cautioned that it remains in the early stages.

For now, Trump appears to be pursuing a pressure-and-diplomacy strategy: punishing Iranian violations with targeted strikes while leaving room for negotiations. But the president’s latest consultations suggest that if Tehran continues to stall, threaten shipping, or advance its nuclear ambitions, Washington may again face the question of whether diplomacy alone is enough.

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