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strikeMay 11, 2026

Trump weighs military action against Iran with ceasefire "on life support"

Summary

President Trump is meeting with his national security team Monday to discuss the way forward in the Iran war, including possibly resuming military action, after negotiations with the country deadlocked on Sunday, three U.S. officials said. Why it matters: U.S. officials say Trump wants a deal to end the war, but Iran's rejection of many of his demands and refusal to make meaningful concessions on its nuclear program puts the military option back on the table. Trump publicly threatened several times in recent days to bomb infrastructure facilities in Iran if diplomacy failed. Driving the news: The U.S. waited 10 days for Iran's response to its draft proposal for ending the war. The White House was optimistic that Iran's positions would show further progress toward a deal. But the Iranian response that arrived on Sunday was not positive. Iran's state TV reported that Tehran has rejected the U.S. proposal, which it said "meant Iran's surrender to Trump's excessive demands." Trump rejected Iran's response on Sunday. "I don't like it. It is inappropriate," he told Axios. Behind the scenes: Vice President Vance, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, CIA director John Ratcliffe and other senior officials are expected to participate in the Iran meeting on Monday, U.S. officials say. What he's saying: "I have a plan. Iran can't have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Monday before the meeting. "The ceasefire with Iran is on massive life support," Trump added. Trump said Iran had agreed to relinquish its stockpile of enriched uranium to the U.S. But he said the Iranians apparentlyreversed course because their response Sunday omitted any mention of the issue. Trump said the Iranian leadership is divided between "moderates and lunatics." State of play: Two U.S. officials said Trump is leaning toward taking some form of military action against Iran to increase pressure on the regime and force concessions on its nuclear program. "He will tune them up a bit," one U.S. official said. "I think we all know where this is going," a second U.S. official said. What to watch: One option Trump is considering is resuming "Project Freedom," the U.S. operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which was suspended last week. Another option is to resume the bombing campaign and strike the 25% of targets the U.S. military identified but hasn't hit yet. The Israeli government wants Trump to order a special forces operation to secure Iran's enriched uranium stockpile. Israeli officials say Trump is hesitant to order such an operation because it is highly risky. The big picture: One consideration for Trump as he weighs next steps in the war is his trip to China this week. The president is expected to leave Wednesday and return Friday. Two U.S. officials said they don't think Trump would order military action against Iran before he returns from China. U.S. officials say Trump is expected to discuss the Iran war with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China has been urging Iran to reach a deal with the U.S. on ending the war and curbing its nuclear program, so far with no success.

Perspectives

Iranian Official

The Iranian government has rejected the U.S. draft proposal as an unacceptable demand for surrender that violates Iran's sovereignty and legitimate rights, including its peaceful nuclear program. Washington’s threats to resume military aggression and bomb Iranian infrastructure represent clear foreign aggression following the collapse of talks. Tehran stands firm in resistance, refusing to yield to external pressure.

Israeli

Israeli security officials see the collapse of US-Iran talks as confirmation that Tehran will not abandon its nuclear ambitions—an existential threat that would allow its proxy network of Hezbollah, Hamas and other militias to intensify direct attacks on the Jewish state. The Pentagon’s renewed consideration of strikes on Iranian infrastructure reflects the defensive necessity of neutralizing this danger before it becomes irreversible. Trump’s insistence that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon echoes Israel’s core requirement for credible military options to ensure its survival.

Neutral

U.S. President Trump is scheduled to meet with national security officials on Monday to discuss options on Iran, including possible resumption of military action, after negotiations reached a deadlock on Sunday, according to three U.S. officials. Iranian state media reported that Tehran rejected a U.S. draft proposal, describing it as requiring surrender to excessive demands, while Trump stated the response was inappropriate. The meeting is expected to include Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, and other senior officials.

Western

President Trump will convene his national security team Monday to assess options for neutralizing Iran's nuclear threat after Tehran rejected U.S. proposals and refused meaningful concessions on its weapons program. With diplomacy deadlocked, the administration is weighing the resumption of precision strikes on critical infrastructure to enforce strategic objectives and prevent nuclear proliferation. Senior officials, including the vice president, secretaries of state and defense, and intelligence leaders, are expected to review plans ensuring any military action remains targeted and effective.

Pro-Peace

As U.S. officials weigh resuming strikes on Iranian infrastructure following stalled talks, the prospect of renewed bombing raises urgent fears of widespread civilian casualties and the destruction of essential services already strained by years of sanctions and conflict. Humanitarian advocates stress that any military escalation would exact a devastating toll on ordinary Iranians, from disrupted healthcare and food supplies to mass displacement, while underscoring that sustained diplomacy remains the only viable path to addressing nuclear concerns without further loss of life. With both sides rejecting proposals, renewed international mediation is critical to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.

Global South

US pressure on Iran over its nuclear program underscores persistent neo-colonial efforts to curtail sovereign decision-making in the Global South, with Washington’s draft proposal dismissed in Tehran as a demand for outright capitulation. After stalled talks, President Trump’s national security team is weighing resumed strikes on Iranian infrastructure, reviving military threats that bypass multilateral institutions. This impasse highlights the limits of US-centric diplomacy, where one-sided concessions are enforced through the shadow of force rather than equitable negotiation.

Actors involved

IsraelIranChina

Sources

  • Barak RavidBy Barak Ravid

    President Trump is meeting with his national security team Monday to discuss the way forward in the Iran war, including possibly resuming military action, after negotiations with the country deadlocked on Sunday, three U.S. officials said. Why it matters: U.S. officials say Trump…

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