U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he is approaching a critical juncture over whether to restart massive attacks on Iran, telling Axios, “I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.”

The comment landed as Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis exchanged fresh strikes and as Hormuz traffic remained tightly constrained. Trump has threatened major new attacks before without always following through, Reuters noted, but midterm politics and record diesel prices raise the stakes of any escalation—or of looking indecisive.

The United States and Iran have held no negotiations since a June interim deal collapsed within weeks. An Iranian delegation will be allowed to attend next week’s UN General Assembly, the State Department said, putting diplomacy and kinetic options on a shared calendar.

Wires agree on Trump’s annihilate framing and the absence of active talks; they diverge on whether the rhetoric telegraphs an imminent campaign or bargaining theater. Officials and independent outlets continue updating confirmed details as they become available. Readers should treat casualty figures, market closes, and diplomatic claims as provisional until primary agencies publish final tallies. NewsHabit’s both-sides notes below flag where major accounts agree and where they still diverge on motive, legality, or next steps. Officials and independent outlets continue updating confirmed details as they become available. Readers should treat casualty figures, market closes, and diplomatic claims as provisional until primary agencies publish final tallies. NewsHabit’s both-sides notes below flag where major accounts agree and where they still diverge on motive, legality, or next steps.