Trump has 'a decision to make' on Iran as concerns over renewed strikes deepen
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he has a "decision to make" on Iran, as talks remain stalled and concern is rising over whether he will restart hostilities. Mr Trump told Fox News on Sunday that he was considering his next moves with regard to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/iran" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/iran">Iran</a>. "I have a decision to make: Do I finish it off, which would be very easy to do, or do I make a deal?" he said.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article says talks 'remain stalled' without giving Iran's account. Iran's president accused Washington of derailing the negotiations while saying efforts for a deal should continue. Without this, a reader has no picture of why the talks stalled beyond Trump's framing.
How we know
- Al Jazeera English reported“Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, accused Washington of derailing negotiations but said efforts to reach an agreement should continue.”CENTCOM reportedly has plans for Iran strikes: Will Trump approve them? (opens in a new tab)
"That's the decision." He added: “We don’t play games.” Mr Trump later told reporters at the White House that "there will not be a strike today". <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/donald-trump">Mr Trump</a> has said that he would not strike Iran until after the critical <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/10/20/us-midterms-iran-foreign-policy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/10/20/us-midterms-iran-foreign-policy/">midterm elections on November 3</a>.
The war, now nearing its eighth month, is likely to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/10/14/trump-midterms-republicans-toxic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/10/14/trump-midterms-republicans-toxic/">weigh heavily on voters</a> as the price of fuel and other necessities remains high. The US has has sent more forces, including a <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/10/01/us-sends-third-aircraft-carrier-to-middle-east/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/10/01/us-sends-third-aircraft-carrier-to-middle-east/">third aircraft carrier group</a>, towards the Arabian Gulf in recent weeks.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article never says that the war 'nearing its eighth month' began with the US-Israeli operation against Iran launched on 28 February, and it never mentions Israel at all. With only 'threats from Iran' and Iranian mines described, a reader can come away believing the US is responding to Iranian aggression rather than weighing whether to restart a war it launched with Israel.
How we know
- Al Jazeera English reported“referring to the codename of the US-Israeli military operation against Iran that began on February 28”CENTCOM reportedly has plans for Iran strikes: Will Trump approve them? (opens in a new tab)
Officials warn the period between the election and the new Congress taking office could be particularly dangerous, with a negotiated deal seen as the most likely way to end the conflict. The US is also <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/10/22/us-pulls-diplomats-from-saudi-arabia-but-denies-wider-gulf-withdrawal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/10/22/us-pulls-diplomats-from-saudi-arabia-but-denies-wider-gulf-withdrawal/">reducing diplomatic and military staff</a> in parts of the Middle East amid growing threats from Iran and the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.
On Sunday, the US in <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/saudi-arabia" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/saudi-arabia">Saudi Arabia</a> said that government employees now require special authorisation from the chief of mission to use any airport in the country. "US government employees working in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to travel within 20 miles [32km] of the Yemen border due to safety risks and need special authorisation for travel to the provinces of Jizan, Asir, Najran, and the cities of Qatif, Yanbu and Taif," the US embassy said.
It said US citizens wanting to travel should be aware of potential attacks on airports, airspace closures, flight cancellations and travel disruptions. Meanwhile, Admiral Brad Cooper, head of <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/12/us-and-regional-allies-shielded-by-worlds-largest-air-defence-umbrella-says-centcom-chief/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/12/us-and-regional-allies-shielded-by-worlds-largest-air-defence-umbrella-says-centcom-chief/">US Central Command</a>. visited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, where he emphasised Washington's dedication to helping Gulf partners export crude oil.
Centcom said in a statement that the US has helped Gulf allies export "more than 1.5 billion barrels" since summer. "We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Gulf partners and the shipping industry," Admiral Cooper says. "This visit underscores our strong commitment to continued freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz." US forces have "successfully cleared the strait's international shipping lanes of sea mines" laid by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Centcom said.
Admiral Cooper said that the US remains "intensely focused on keeping commercial traffic flowing as we work with our teammates in the US interagency, Gulf Co-operation Council and shipping industry".
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