Trump says "close" to deciding on a "large-scale attack," Iran reported to be preparing for military escalation, especially a ground invasion.

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Recent news indicates that the U.S.-Iran situation is on the dangerous brink of a full-scale escalation.

According to Xinhua News Agency citing U.S. media on Thursday the 23rd, U.S. President Trump said that he is "seriously considering" resuming large-scale military operations against Iran. Trump told U.S. media that he is "close" to deciding whether to launch a "large-scale attack" on Iran, and that the operation could be larger than the "Epic Wrath" military action against Iran at the end of February this year. Trump emphasized that no final decision has been made yet, but the U.S. military is already prepared.

After the news broke, market risk-aversion sentiment quickly surged, with the S&P 500 falling 1.7%, the Nasdaq down 2.7%, and the Dow down 1.2%. The U.S. stock market’s VIX “fear index” jumped 22%, indicating that investors are repricing the risk of further escalation between the U.S. and Iran.

Also on Thursday, Xinhua News Agency citing U.S. media reported that the Trump administration could further intensify military strikes against Iran. Xinhua also mentioned that Iranian military sources said Iran’s armed forces have rehearsed multiple scenarios for U.S. attacks and are prepared to counter U.S. ground invasions.

As U.S.-Iran military tensions continue to heat up, Trump earlier on Thursday had publicly threatened "military punishment" against Iran and Yemen’s Houthi forces, while the U.S. House of Representatives on the same day passed a resolution calling for a halt to military actions against Iran, further intensifying the conflict between the White House and Congress over war powers authorization.

Trump: Close to Deciding on “Large-Scale Attack” on Iran

According to U.S. outlet Axios, in an exclusive interview, Trump said he is "close" to deciding whether to launch a "large-scale attack" on Iran, but no final decision has been made yet. He said:

"I'm considering launching a large-scale attack, unprecedented in scale. I’m close to making a decision, and we’re fully prepared."

Trump did not give a deadline for his decision. The report mentioned that two U.S. officials confirmed that no decision has been made and no new instructions have been given to the military.

Trump stated that the U.S. military is "fully ready," Iran "wants to negotiate," but is not yet ready to make a deal. He said, "They (Iran) haven’t suffered enough."

U.S. media quoted regional sources familiar with U.S.-Iran mediation efforts as saying Iran’s leadership has not accepted the latest ceasefire proposal. One of them said: "We're trying, but the Iranians are not cooperating."

Axios reported that the Trump administration has intensified military activity in the Middle East over the past 12 days, with one focus being to address Iran’s threat to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. As diplomatic progress stalls, military options have once again become a major tool for the Trump administration to pressure Tehran.

This also means Trump’s so-called “large-scale attack” is not an isolated remark, but comes against the backdrop of ongoing U.S.-Iran escalation, rising risks to Hormuz Strait shipping, and diplomatic efforts at an impasse.

If Trump ultimately decides to escalate military action, the scale, targets, and duration of U.S. strikes could surpass previous operations, further increasing the possibility of retaliation by Iran and its regional allies.

U.S. Signals Expanded Strikes, Iran Prepares for Military Escalation

Xinhua reports that as the U.S. sends signals of possible further expanded military action, Iran is preparing for escalation.

The report stated that Iran has taken measures in anticipation of the U.S. possibly expanding its strikes. Currently, the contest between the U.S. and Iran in military deployment, strategic deterrence, and diplomatic negotiations is intensifying, and any new military moves by either side could trigger a new round of retaliation and counter-retaliation.

From the Iranian side's perspective, the conflict risk now comes not only from whether the U.S. will launch another round of airstrikes, but also from whether the U.S. will expand target ranges and further increase its regional military presence in the Middle East.

Xinhua’s report mentioned an Iranian military source telling Russian media, “The Iranian armed forces have prepared multiple response scenarios for any new U.S. attacks, especially if the U.S. government makes the mistake of launching a ground invasion.” If the U.S. military attacks Iran’s nuclear or infrastructure facilities again, Iran’s response will exceed U.S. expectations. Xinhua also noted that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement on Thursday the 23rd, saying that in response to U.S. military actions against Iran, Iran struck U.S. military facilities in Jordan and Kuwait; the strike on the U.S. base in Biling, Kuwait caused some deaths and injuries among U.S. personnel.

In his interview with Axios, Trump said that if he requests, Israel would "join military action against Iran within two minutes," but he also said, "We don’t need anyone else" to launch new actions against Iran. He further noted that if Israel participates in an attack, it will face "consequences," implying that Iran might retaliate against Israel.

In previous clashes, Iran has repeatedly warned that the U.S. would face corresponding countermeasures if it expands military operations. Now, as Trump makes clear he is “close” to deciding on large-scale strikes, Iran’s military preparations also mean both sides are bracing for worst-case scenarios.

This sets up an even more dangerous cycle in the U.S.-Iran conflict: the U.S. bolsters its military deployment in response to Iran’s threats to shipping and regional security, while Iran views the U.S. deployment as a prelude to further strikes and ramps up its own preparedness, ultimately increasing the risk of misjudgments and unintended escalation.

From “Military Punishment” to “Large-Scale Strikes”: Intensifying Signals of Escalation

Even before the latest Axios report, Trump had already made stronger military threats in public statements against Iran and the Houthis.

Trump said on Thursday that if Iran continues to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. will retaliate; previously, he had also threatened that for every Iranian shot at ships, the U.S. might destroy a bridge or a power plant.

At the same time, Trump stated that if Houthi forces continue to attack shipping in the Red Sea, they will face "major military punishment" as well.

This means that Iran and the Houthis’ actions in critical Middle Eastern shipping lanes are now seen by the Trump administration as potential triggers for further U.S. military moves.

Previously, the Trump administration’s military objectives against Iran mainly focused on weakening its missile capabilities, striking nuclear facilities, and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. But as the conflict continues, military targets are further expanding to include maritime traffic lines and regional proxy networks, significantly increasing the risk of the conflict spilling over.

Risk Disclaimer ClauseThe market involves risks, and investment must be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account individual users’ special investment objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinion, view, or conclusion in this article fits their specific circumstances. Investments based on this are at your own risk. ```