US Weighs Renewed Strikes on Iran as Diplomacy and G20 Talks Continue

United States President Donald Trump said Washington is considering further military actions against Iran, claiming that remaining nuclear facilities could be struck within minutes if necessary. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump remarked that negotiations with Tehran are ongoing and progressing fine, though he expressed skepticism regarding Iran's long-term reliability. He specifically noted that underground sites such as Pickaxe Mountain remain potential targets in the ongoing conflict.

The remarks coincide with discussions in Doha, where Iranian negotiators have engaged with Qatari mediators to explore a potential diplomatic resolution. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a proposal has been discussed which could allow the strategic Strait of Hormuz to fully reopen within two days. Despite these diplomatic channels, Araghchi noted that Tehran has no immediate plans to hold direct meetings with American officials.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated during the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta that President Trump has not yet made a definitive decision on whether to resume major military strikes, emphasizing a preference for a diplomatic outcome. Rubio hosted sideline discussions with foreign counterparts to address critical regional security challenges, including the security of maritime commerce in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which have been affected by ongoing hostilities and Houthi attacks.

The G20 meetings concluded without a formal joint communique due to deep divisions among member nations, notably concerning global conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine as well as the Middle East. Instead, the gathering relied on a chairman's statement summarizing the priorities discussed during the two-day summit. The traditional group photo was canceled after European diplomats objected to the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Military tensions remain elevated across the Middle East. U.S. Central Command reported that naval forces have redirected 144 commercial vessels to maintain a blockade against Iranian ports. Meanwhile, satellite imagery analysis indicates that previous drone and missile strikes attributed to Iran and regional militias have impacted multiple U.S. bases across several countries, resulting in equipment damage.

In Iran, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei recently directed military commanders to upgrade defense capabilities and prepare for unrestricted responses to any renewed foreign attacks. Senior Iranian officials, including National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, warned of severe military retaliation if Washington pursues further operations, while also signaling that Tehran could reconsider its position on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if hostilities escalate further.