Trump Says He Will Soon Decide Whether to Launch a Large-Scale Attack on Iran

[Financial News] Donald Trump said he will soon decide whether to carry out a 'large-scale attack' against Iran.
In an interview with Axios on the 23rd, Trump said, "We are considering a larger-scale attack than any war situation I have seen so far," adding, "A decision is imminent, and all preparations are complete." He also said Iran "has not suffered enough yet."
Over the past two weeks, the U.S. military has continued intensive strikes on key targets inside Iran, and United States Central Command (CENTCOM) completed 13 consecutive days of attacks. Trump did not give a specific deadline for his decision, but said, "If I ask, Israel will join the operation within two minutes," while noting that Israel could face retaliation from Iran if it participates.
He also reiterated that Iran wants negotiations, but said Tehran is not yet ready to reach an agreement with the United States.
The remarks came shortly after the Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, claimed they had attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea. Trump warned on Truth Social that "the Houthis are an Iranian proxy, and if they do this again, the United States will hold Iran responsible," adding that "both Iran and the Houthis will face massive military retaliation."
Earlier, the Houthi rebels declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and threatened to block oil exports through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also said through state media that it had attacked U.S. military facilities in Jordan.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the Trump administration's response to Iran could be summed up as "an eye for an eye," reaffirming a hard-line stance by saying, "They will pay a very heavy price for what they have done."
The Government of the United Kingdom said it was prepared to defend itself "24 hours a day, 7 days a week" after Iran designated the UK as complicit for allowing the U.S. military to use bases in the country.
The Iranian government also warned other European countries against allowing the U.S. military to use their bases or territory.
As military tensions from the Middle East escalated, international oil prices also fluctuated.
On the morning of the 24th, oil prices fell slightly by about 1%, but for the week they were up roughly 10%. Brent Crude Oil futures, the global benchmark, traded above $99 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude oil (WTI) futures were trading at $91.08 per barrel.
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