Trump considers new escalation against Iran as China pushes for diplomacy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he is close to making a "major decision" regarding the possibility of resuming large-scale attacks against Iran. The announcement comes as China intensifies its diplomatic push, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaking to both U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, urging restraint.

Trump said he wants to listen to the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, whom he will meet next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, before deciding the next phase of the conflict. Meanwhile, commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted to just three merchant ships, well below the average.

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran erupted in February 2026, following years of tensions related to Iran's nuclear program and Tehran's support for militant groups in the Middle East. The war, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" by the U.S., has seen large-scale reciprocal attacks, with Iran striking American bases in several Gulf countries and the U.S. conducting airstrikes on Iranian territory.

The situation has been further complicated by the advance of the Houthis in Yemen, an Iran-backed group, which has taken control of strategic parts of the Red Sea coast, threatening global shipping routes such as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This has prompted U.S. regional allies, such as Saudi Arabia, to call for greater intervention. China, a major energy importer from the region, is seeking to mediate to protect its economic interests, while Russia and China continue to oppose international sanctions against Iran at the UN Security Council.