23/10/2026
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23/10/2026
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WASHINGTON, Oct 23: US President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that Washington could launch further strikes on Iran, claiming US military action had severely weakened Tehran and insisting that Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
“We’ve knocked the hell out of them, and we may do it a little bit further,” Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for a campaign rally in Iowa.
Trump said previous US presidents should have taken action against Iran much earlier, defending his decision to launch military operations despite the political costs associated with the conflict.
Asked about public reaction to the war, he said some Americans supported the campaign because they believed he was doing what previous presidents should have done, while others might oppose it.
“There’s a price to pay, which I knew immediately when I did it. But we can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
On Wednesday, Trump said Washington was not negotiating with Tehran and warned that “something one way or the other” would happen “fairly soon,” leaving open the possibility of further military action.
Plans for renewed strikes
The New York Times reported that US and Israeli militaries had developed plans for renewed strikes on Iran following the US midterm elections. However, the report said it remained uncertain whether Trump would approve the plans.
The reports come amid continued uncertainty over the prospects for ending the conflict and restoring stability to the region.
War and Strait of Hormuz crisis
The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, triggering Iranian missile and drone attacks across the region.
The conflict also disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies, as Tehran effectively closed the strategic waterway.
A memorandum of understanding was signed in June to pave the way for a final peace agreement, but the process subsequently collapsed amid disagreements, including over navigation through the strait.
Trump's latest remarks signal that further military action remains a possibility as Washington maintains its position that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons.
