What Happened Inside Trump’s Oval Office Meeting That Led To Fresh Strikes On Iran?

Iran-US Tensions: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday stepped back from a peace agreement with Iran just two weeks after calling it a major diplomatic breakthrough. Following his announcement, Washington and Tehran engaged in a military exchange on Thursday, further escalating tensions between the two countries. The rising tensions have come as a shock to many, who had breathed a sigh of relief after months of conflict in West Asia.

What Triggered Trump’s U-Turn?

Amid renewed hostilities, a report has emerged, claiming what actually prompted Trump to order strikes on Iran again. According to The Wall Street Journal, an urgent meeting at the White House changed the direction of the US approach towards Iran. The report states that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Trump in the Oval Office on Monday evening before his departure to Turkey for NATO Summit.

Tense Oval Office Meeting

During the meeting, they informed Trump that Iran had allegedly launched anti-ship cruise missiles and one-way attack drones targeting commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. Three ships were reportedly hit within hours, including a liquefied natural gas tanker. The briefing reportedly angered Trump, who questioned whether Tehran was seriously interested in reaching a long-term agreement.

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After discussions with his national security team, he concluded that Tehran was not negotiating in good faith. Following Trump’s decision, the US administration began reversing several measures linked to the interim peace framework signed in Versailles. It started with the White House revoking Iran’s licence to sell oil. After this, additional military strikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz were carried out.

Trump Says Agreement Is 'Over'

Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump confirmed that he no longer believed the agreement could continue. “It's a very interesting question. To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them," Trump said when asked whether the interim accord with Iran that envisaged hammering out a long-term peace deal by mid-August was over. "They're scum. They're sick people. They're led by sick people. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them," he said.

Iran Rejects US' Claims

Meanwhile, Iran rejected the US claims and blamed Washington for the collapse of the deal. An Iranian diplomat told WSJ that the US had violated the agreement by creating a shipping route through Hormuz without consulting Tehran. According to the diplomat, the move led to Iran’s response against ships using the route.

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