Trump weighs new motion in opposition to Iran amid rising rigidity
Fox News chief nationwide safety correspondent Jennifer Griffin reviews on mounting tensions between the U.S. and Iran as State Department principal deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott discusses the Trump administration’s technique on ‘America Reports.’
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As President Donald Trump weighs his choices on a doable navy strike on Iran, a senior Gulf official advised Fox News that Saudi Arabia is not going to permit the U.S. to use its airspace or bases for such an attack.
A high-ranking authorities determine from a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state advised Fox News that the “U.S. hasn’t shared objectives or plans” relating to Iran with Gulf allies regardless of current high-level Saudi conferences in Washington aimed toward gaining readability.
“We said this as friends, [we] want to make sure they understand our position and our assessment in general – and we want to understand the U.S. assessment with as much clarity as possible,” the senior official stated, including, “I’d like to get full clarity, and we did not get there.”
Regarding U.S. navy actions for a strike on Iran, the official stated, “The plan is something other than using Saudi airspace.”
TRUMP SAYS IRAN ALREADY HAS US TERMS AS MILITARY STRIKE CLOCK TICKS
U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman throughout an official state arrival ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
They stated the U.S. is welcome in Saudi Arabia, particularly relating to Operation Inherent Resolve, the ongoing U.S.-led marketing campaign in opposition to ISIS. Yet, the Saudi place now’s “consistent” with what it was throughout the 12-day battle between Israel and Iran in April 2024, the official stated.
“Saudi Arabia wouldn’t allow airspace to be used to target Israel, Houthis, Iran – the position is the same now. Saudi Arabia wouldn’t allow airspace to be used in a war Saudi Arabia is not a part of,” the official stated.
Trump stated Friday that the United States has immediately communicated expectations to Iran as strain mounts for Tehran to just accept a nuclear deal, at the same time as Iranian officers publicly sign curiosity in talks.
Asked whether or not Iran faces a deadline to make a deal, Trump instructed the timeline had been conveyed privately.
“Only they know for sure,” he stated, confirming when pressed that the message had been delivered on to Iranian leaders.
Trump additionally tied the rising U.S. naval presence in the area explicitly to Iran, saying American warships “have to float someplace” and “might as well float near Iran” as Washington weighs its subsequent steps.
AS IRAN WEAKENS, QUESTIONS GROW OVER MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN’S REGIONAL AMBITIONS
The state tax constructing burned throughout Iran’s protests, on a avenue in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 19, 2026. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) through Reuters)
Despite the president’s phrases that Iran desires to make a deal, the official cautioned that “Iran always wants to make a deal, but the question is, what kind of deal? Is it acceptable to the U.S.?”
“We don’t see it coming together at this moment,” the official stated, whereas additionally noting that “everybody knows the U.S. is bringing capabilities to the region in general – to deal not with whatever the plan is, but whatever ramification of the plan is.”
Regarding the success of future U.S. actions in Iran, the official stated, “There is always a problem whether you make a decision or don’t, there’s a balance of … future in the Middle East. We advise the US on a better outcome at the end, using all means, including diplomatic means, and advise Iranians too … we understand that we’re all in this, the U.S., Iran, and others, and we hope for better results.”
The official stated that in the Gulf allies’ evaluation, the Trump administration’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear belongings closely degraded their capabilities in order that they’re “not in the same situation as before.”
TRUMP SAYS IRAN CALLED ‘NUMEROUS’ TIMES TO MAKE DEAL AS CARRIER ENTERS MIDDLE EAST WATERS
U.S. President Donald Trump poses for a household image with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and different attendees throughout the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., U.S., Nov. 19, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
That being stated, they imagine an “off ramp could be reached by Iranians doing the right thing.”
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“We want a prosperous country that supports their people, that’s what we think we should all be doing – Iran has real economic potential, energy, a lot of talent in Iran and especially abroad who live in other countries, challenges they face – there’s a way to get out of it and Iran could be a very constructive actor in the region and important actor in the region. I hope that they get there because the Iranian people deserve a lot.”
Overall, the official stated that although the U.S. has not shared its targets or plans, they stated, “I hope that outcome is for a more stable Middle East, more prosperous.”
Peter Pinedo is a politics author for Fox News Digital.
