Trump has met with his top advisers on Iran as he considers a return to war, Axios reports
US President Donald Trump called a meeting Friday morning with his top national security team regarding the war against Iran, two US officials told Axios.
Mr. Trump is seriously considering launching new strikes against Iran, barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations, according to sources who spoke directly with the president.
Trump’s meeting with Iran took place as Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, traveled to Tehran in a last-minute effort to bridge gaps and prevent a resumption of war. A Qatari delegation also arrived in Tehran on Friday to support mediation efforts.
A U.S. official briefed on the diplomatic efforts called the negotiations “difficult.” This official indicated that the draft documents “are the subject of daily exchanges” without significant progress, again according to Axios.
Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and other officials attended the meeting alongside Trump, the sources said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine were absent, respectively in Europe and at the Naval Academy graduation ceremony.
During the meeting, Trump was briefed on the status of the negotiations and the different possible scenarios if the talks failed.
Hours after the meeting, the White House announced a change to Trump’s schedule for the weekend. After a planned speech in New York on Friday evening, he will return to Washington instead of staying at his golf club in Bedminster.
Trump also wrote on his Truth Social account that he would not attend Don Jr.’s wedding this weekend due to “government-related circumstances and my love for the United States of America.”
“I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, at the White House, during this crucial time,” he wrote.
Behind the scenes, a source close to Trump and a second source familiar with the situation told Axios that Trump had become increasingly frustrated with negotiations with Iran in recent days.
