Tensions are rising in Washington as the Trump administration considers the possibility of resuming airstrikes against Iran. President Trump canceled plans to attend his son’s wedding on May 22, opting to remain at the White House instead after holding a high-level national security meeting.
According to reports from Axios and CBS News on May 23, President Trump is seriously contemplating military action if Iran does not accept the “final proposal” the U.S. delivered on May 20.
During a national security team meeting on May 22, attended by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles, Trump received updates on the negotiation status and potential responses if talks collapse. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was on a trip to Europe, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cane was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
Anonymous sources cited by Axios indicated that Trump has shown increasing frustration with the negotiations over the past few days. While he emphasized diplomatic solutions during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 19, he began leaning toward military action after May 21.
However, there are no clear signals that Trump has made a final decision to resume military operations. On May 22, he stated, "Iran desperately wants a deal," indicating he would continue to monitor the situation.
The atmosphere within the U.S. government is tense, with many officials canceling personal plans ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 25. Trump also decided to return to the White House instead of spending the holiday at his golf club in New Jersey after a speech in New York.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump explained, "I was unable to attend the wedding of my son Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas due to government-related matters and responsibilities to the United States. I deemed it important to remain at the White House during this critical time."
Defense and intelligence officials are reportedly on high alert for potential retaliatory actions from Iran, with preparations underway to update deployment lists for overseas bases in conjunction with troop rotations in the Middle East.
Since entering a temporary ceasefire on April 8, the U.S. and Iran have been engaged in indirect negotiations, but discussions remain challenging. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated on May 22 that while talks are ongoing, a consensus is not imminent. The Tasnim news agency, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that key issues are still being negotiated.
Meanwhile, mediation efforts to prevent a return to conflict are continuing. General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, arrived in Tehran on May 22, and a Qatari delegation is also reportedly involved in supporting negotiations. However, a U.S. official described the negotiations as "painfully slow," with drafts merely circulating without significant progress.
Iran, for its part, is not backing down. The Iranian Foreign Ministry reiterated on May 22 that while discussions are ongoing, a deal is not close.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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