Donald Trump told Axios “I’m weighing a massive attack on Iran” and said he is “close to a decision” as fighting resumes in the Middle East. The president called it “bigger than ever before” and said Israel would join “in two minutes” if asked.
In the Thursday interview, Trump said Tehran “haven’t received enough pain yet.” He added the US “don’t need anybody” for a new operation. The remarks came hours after oil jumped above $100 a barrel on renewed Red Sea attacks.
The House responded by passing a war powers resolution directing Trump to withdraw US forces from the Iran conflict. The vote was 214-208, with four Republicans joining Democrats. The administration calls such resolutions unconstitutional and largely symbolic.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tied diplomacy to the escalation. She said a US-Saudi civil nuclear deal is “contingent” on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords. “If they don’t join the Abraham accords, the deal is off,” she told reporters.
The Abraham accords were signed in 2020 by Israel, Bahrain and the UAE to normalize ties. Trump called expanding them a “longterm goal” for a “peaceful and stable” Middle East. Netanyahu said Saudi entry would be an “historic leap forward for peace.”
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis hit two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Trump posted on Truth Social that the Houthis are a “Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran.” He warned “major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran” if attacks continue.
Reuters reported, citing four sources, that Iran flew IRGC commanders and missile equipment to Hodeidah on July 13. One source said they came “to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems.” Gold was also reportedly sent to fund them.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Houthis “got snookered into this thing by the Iranians.” He noted they had stayed out until now and urged de-escalation. The US previously struck Houthi targets a year ago over shipping disruptions.
Oil markets reacted fast. Brent crude rose more than 6% to pass $100 per barrel for the first time since May. Analysts linked the spike to both the Houthi attacks and Trump’s threat. Energy firms reported profits doubling amid the war.
The escalation reached land too. Iran’s Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq was reportedly struck overnight, killing two and wounding 11. The site serves pilgrims heading to Najaf and Karbala for Arbaeen. Analyst Gregory Brew said it was “crowded with hundreds of people.”
In Gaza, a UN report found acute food insecurity fell from 77% to 67% of the population. Still, 1.4 million people face crisis-level hunger. WFP’s Carl Skau warned the progress “is fragile and can easily be reversed” without sustained aid and access.
Tensions flared in Jerusalem as well. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir entered the al-Aqsa compound with hundreds of settlers. In a video he said “Jews are praying and feel that they are the rightful owners here.” Palestinians accused him of trying to start a “religious war.”
Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo is pushing a proposal to restart US-Iran talks. He told Bloomberg Egypt is in “daily contact” with Washington, Tehran and regional partners. No date for negotiations has been set.
The House war powers vote shows growing congressional resistance. Sponsor Pramila Jayapal argued Trump violated the law by joining the conflict without approval. A similar Senate-backed resolution last month was also dismissed by the White House.
Trump described the Saudi nuclear deal narrowly. On Truth Social he wrote “There will be no enrichment of material!” and said it covers only civilian use, like deals with the UAE. Banning enrichment remains a key US demand.
Saudi Arabia has not responded publicly to the Abraham Accords condition. Riyadh wants civilian nuclear technology but has resisted normalization without progress for Palestinians. Trump’s linkage puts diplomacy under direct security pressure.
In the Red Sea, shipping risks are climbing again. Two Chinese supertankers carrying Saudi oil were tracked heading for the exit. Asean leaders this week called for “open straits” amid the Iran war, citing impacts on Asian trade.
The Houthi attacks mark a shift. For months they avoided major strikes during the US-Iran confrontation. Rubio said they were “smart” to stay out before. Now they risk wider retaliation if they keep targeting Saudi vessels.
Military analysts expect any new US strike to hit missile sites and IRGC infrastructure. Trump said “we are all set for it.” Israel has not confirmed plans, but Netanyahu’s office praised closer alignment under the accords framework.
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Oil at $100 adds pressure worldwide. Consumers already face inflation, and another Middle East war could push fuel and food prices higher. Markets are watching if Iran answers threats with more shipping disruptions.
Diplomats fear miscalculation. With failed war powers votes, strikes on pilgrims, and Red Sea attacks, the risk of a wider war grows. Egypt and Oman are mediating, including efforts to restart Yemen talks.
For now Trump is signaling force while using the nuclear deal as leverage. The message from Washington is clear: join the Abraham Accords for US nuclear cooperation, and any further Houthi attacks will bring direct punishment on Iran.
The next days will decide the direction. Whether Trump orders the strike he described, and whether Saudi Arabia accepts the accords condition, could reshape security and energy in the region for months.
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