Trump leaves Iran strike and agreement options open

President Donald Trump said Saturday, October 24, that the United States could strike Iran as soon as the following day, while also leaving open the possibility of an agreement with Tehran. He did not announce a decision to authorize military action. Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump described renewed strikes and a negotiated agreement as possible paths. He questioned whether Iran would honor an agreement and said his objective was to ensure the country could never develop a nuclear weapon. He argued that previous U.S. military action had not made that outcome permanent. Trump’s remarks came after he posted that the United States would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, citing what he described as productive discussions with Iran. His later comments left a possible strike as soon as Sunday on the table, without explaining how that possibility related to the earlier commitment. Neither statement established that an attack had been ordered. A report cited by one account said U.S. Central Command had prepared options for follow-up strikes and that options could be presented to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The account, citing people familiar with the...