Lead
Washington is signaling that military action against Iran may resume, with multiple reports on Friday indicating that President Donald Trump is leaning toward launching new strikes barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations. According to Axios, which was cited by several outlets, Trump met with senior national security officials on the morning of May 22 to discuss the status of talks and contingency plans should they collapse.
The reports come as diplomatic efforts intensify, including a visit by Pakistan's army chief to Tehran and comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting only modest progress in negotiations. The Trump administration has not made a final decision on strikes, according to CBS News, but preparations are reportedly underway.
Coverage Comparison
The story was covered by multiple outlets, each offering a slightly different emphasis. Dawn, a Pakistani newspaper, focused on the domestic political backlash in the United States, highlighting how Democrats are framing the confrontation with Iran as "economically damaging, strategically inconsistent and politically risky." Dawn also quoted Trump's warning that "the clock is ticking" and his threat that Iran would be "hit much harder" if it failed to revise its position.
TASS, Russia's state-run news agency, reported on Axios's claims, noting that Trump was "leaning toward further strikes" and that he held a meeting with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and other officials. TASS also cited CBS News reporting that the Pentagon and intelligence community are preparing for a fresh round of strikes within the next three days, with some officials canceling Memorial Day weekend plans.
The Hindu, an Indian newspaper, struck a more diplomatic tone, leading with the last-minute efforts to reach a peace deal, including the visit of Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir to Tehran and a delegation from Qatar joining the talks. The Hindu also quoted Trump saying, "Iran is dying to make a deal," while reiterating his position that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Key Claims
- According to Axios, as cited by TASS and The Hindu, Trump is "seriously considering" launching new strikes against Iran unless negotiations produce a breakthrough. The same report states that Trump met with his national security team on Friday morning to discuss negotiation status and "different scenarios if talks collapse."
- Multiple sources told Axios that Trump has grown "increasingly frustrated" with the negotiations over the past several days, with one source describing his shift from wanting to "give diplomacy another chance" on Tuesday to "leaning toward ordering a strike" by Thursday night.
- The Hindu reported that a US official described the talks as "agonising," with drafts "going back and forth every day" without much progress.
- CBS News, cited by TASS, reported that some US military and intelligence officials have canceled Memorial Day weekend plans in anticipation of possible strikes, and that officials are updating recall rosters for overseas installations. However, the report also noted that no final decision had been reached as of Friday afternoon.
- According to Tehran, as cited by TASS, 3,375 Iranians have been killed in US-Israeli strikes during the 40 days of the war, which began on February 28. These casualty figures could not be independently verified.
- A separate claim, reported only by Dawn, asserts that Congressional Democrats have launched a coordinated campaign to constrain Trump's war powers. This has not been confirmed by other outlets in our coverage.
- The Hindu reported that Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir visited Tehran and is expected to meet with General Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This detail was not mentioned in other sources.
Perspectives
- Administration stance: Trump has repeatedly emphasized his preference for a deal but has also threatened severe consequences if Iran does not comply. His comments, as quoted by The Hindu and Dawn, reflect a dual message of deterrence and openness to diplomacy.
- Iranian perspective: Iranian state media, as cited by TASS, indicates that Tehran does not recognize Washington's unilateral ceasefire extension and will act in accordance with its own interests. The casualty figures provided by Tehran underscore the human cost of the conflict.
- Domestic political backlash: Dawn's coverage highlights concerns among Democrats about the economic and strategic costs of a prolonged confrontation, suggesting widening political divisions in the US.
- Diplomatic efforts: The involvement of Pakistan and Qatar, as reported by The Hindu, indicates ongoing international efforts to facilitate a deal, even as military preparations continue.