US President Donald Trump is close to making a decision on whether to launch a new major combat operation against Iran, he told Axios on Thursday.
"I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," he said.
Trump added that Israel "would join in two minutes if I ask them to," but that there would be "consequences" to it joining the strikes, and that the United States didn't need any assistance.
His relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, was very good. "Relations with Bibi are very good. I would meet with him if he is here," he stated.
During the interview with Axios, Trump also said that Iran wants to negotiate, but that they "haven't received enough pain yet."
Two regional sources corroborated that the Iranian leadership was "not being helpful" in negotiations, and had not accepted the latest proposal.
US to use Iranian finances to pay for repairs, Trump says
Early Friday morning, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the US will use the Iranian money that is in its possession to pay for repairs on anything damaged by an Iranian attack.
“Until further notice, from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession and controls,” Trump said. “This is the fair and equitable thing to do."
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that "seizing another nation's assets to pay for unrelated future claims is an incendiary precedent."
Araghchi added that "Once governments normalize confiscation, no one's assets are safe. The ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful."