Trump says he is not keen on a deal with Iran as U.S. reportedly prepares for 'massive bombing'

What did President Trump say about pursuing a deal with Iran, and what military action are U.S. officials reportedly considering?

President Donald Trump said he no longer wants to pursue a deal with Iran. He also said Iranian officials were willing to offer “anything to stop.” His comments came after reports that the U.S. military was preparing for possible strikes. The issue matters because diplomacy and military action now appear to be competing paths.

NBC News reported that Trump and his national security team discussed resuming large-scale U.S. operations in the coming weeks. Axios reported that possible attacks could target Iranian energy, infrastructure, and nuclear facilities. The reports also suggested action could happen before the midterm election.

The situation remains unsettled. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, has been working on a deal and Trump said he was doing well. Iranian officials rejected Trump’s claim that nobody knew who was running Iran, blaming contradictory U.S. positions and mixed messaging instead.

What is a diplomatic deal with Iran meant to accomplish when it is described as an effort to end the conflict?

A diplomatic deal described as an effort to end the conflict is meant to replace continued fighting with negotiated commitments. Those commitments could address military activity, security concerns, and steps needed to prevent renewed attacks. The article does not identify the specific terms under discussion, so its central purpose is stopping the conflict.

The clearest example is Trump’s statement that Iranian officials were willing to offer anything to stop. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, was working on the deal. This shows the mechanism: diplomats negotiate terms, while governments decide whether those terms are acceptable.

The talks face serious obstacles. Trump said he no longer wanted a deal, while reports described preparations for possible U.S. strikes. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said the problem was contradictory U.S. positions and mixed messaging. Without clearer commitments, fighting and diplomacy could continue side by side.

What are U.S. midterm elections, and why could military action before them affect American politics?

U.S. midterm elections are elections held halfway through a president’s four-year term. Voters choose members of Congress, including the House of Representatives and some senators. These elections matter because they can change which party controls Congress and shape a president’s ability to govern.

Military action before voting can influence politics through several channels. A successful operation might strengthen perceptions of presidential leadership, while casualties, escalation, or economic damage could produce the opposite reaction. In this case, Axios reported that military aggression could influence the outcome of the upcoming midterm elections.

The political backdrop is already difficult for Trump. His approval ratings have fallen to a record low amid concerns about high living costs, especially soaring gasoline and diesel prices. The article does not say how voters will respond, but it connects possible military action with an election happening under economic pressure.

How much oil is moving through the Gulf region, and what does 18.5 million barrels per day represent on a global scale?

Kpler estimated that crude volumes exiting the Gulf, excluding Iran, plus shipments from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, had returned to about 18.5 million barrels per day. This is a major flow of oil. It matters because the Gulf region is a crucial source of energy for markets far beyond the Middle East.

The figure combines several routes rather than measuring every barrel produced or transported worldwide. It excludes Iran and includes crude leaving the Gulf alongside volumes from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. At roughly 18.5 million barrels daily, it represents close to one-fifth of global oil consumption, commonly estimated at around 100 million barrels per day.

The recovery does not mean the oil market is fully calm. Kpler said exports were near pre-war levels, but crude prices remained elevated. Matt Wright forecast slower, uneven normalization, with traffic recovering through operational adaptation rather than waiting for a diplomatic deal.

Why can crude oil prices remain high even when oil exports are recovering toward pre-war levels?

Crude prices reflect both current supply and expectations about future supply. Exports can approach pre-war levels while traders still fear attacks, delays, or a wider conflict. That risk encourages buyers and companies to pay more for dependable barrels, keeping prices elevated even when physical flows improve.

The article provides a direct example. Kpler said combined crude volumes exiting the Gulf, excluding Iran, plus Saudi and UAE volumes, were around 18.5 million barrels per day. Yet crude prices remained high. The mechanism is uncertainty: markets may discount current recovery if they expect future disruptions or slower normalization.

Kpler’s Matt Wright described normalization as slower and uneven. He said traffic was recovering through operational adaptation rather than waiting for a diplomatic trigger. This means shipments can continue, but the market may still carry a risk premium until conflict concerns, transport reliability, and diplomatic uncertainty ease.

What could attacks on energy, infrastructure, or nuclear facilities do to Iran, regional security, and oil transportation?

Attacks on energy and infrastructure could reduce Iran’s ability to produce, process, or transport fuel. Damage to nuclear facilities could intensify the political crisis and provoke retaliation. The article describes these targets as part of a possible “massive bombing” campaign, making the consequences potentially much wider than a single military strike.

The key mechanism is disruption and escalation. Damaged facilities can reduce available supply, while threats near shipping routes can make transport slower, costlier, or less reliable. Governments and companies may then hold extra supplies or seek alternative routes. Those responses can tighten markets even before actual exports fall.

The article does not state that such attacks will occur or specify their effects. It does show why the risk matters: crude prices remain elevated despite recovering exports, and Kpler expects uneven normalization. Further conflict could therefore undermine the operational adaptation currently supporting Gulf traffic.

What is crude oil, and how do global supply, transportation, and expectations determine its price?

Crude oil is a naturally occurring liquid fossil fuel extracted from underground or beneath the seabed. Refineries process it into products such as gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. Because many economies depend on these products, changes in crude prices can affect transportation, businesses, and household costs.

Prices respond to supply and demand. More available oil usually puts downward pressure on prices, while reduced supply can push them higher. Transportation also matters. If tankers face delays, dangerous routes, or higher insurance costs, delivered oil becomes less reliable and more expensive. The article’s Gulf flows show why transport is central to the market.

Expectations can move prices before physical supplies change. Middle East exports were near pre-conflict levels, yet crude prices remained elevated. Traders may still fear renewed attacks or slower recovery. Kpler’s forecast of slower, uneven normalization shows how uncertainty can keep prices high even when current shipments are recovering.

Key Facts:

📌 Trump said he no longer wants a deal with Iran.

📌 U.S. officials discussed possibly resuming large-scale military operations.

📌 Possible attacks could target energy, infrastructure, and nuclear facilities.

📌 The talks were described as efforts to end the conflict.

📌 Steve Witkoff was working on the deal.

📌 The article does not state the deal’s specific terms.

📌 Midterm elections occur halfway through a president’s four-year term.