President Donald Trump has stated that he is considering a larger-scale attack on Iran than ever before. He warned that if the Iran-aligned Houthi group resumes attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, both the Houthis and Iran, which supports them, will be held militarily accountable.
In an interview with Axios on July 23, Trump said, "I am considering a large-scale attack," adding, "It could be bigger than anything we've done before." He noted that the U.S. is currently conducting airstrikes against Iran for the 12th consecutive day.
Axios reported that Trump's comments suggest he is contemplating military actions that exceed the limited additional strikes carried out during the 'Epic Fury' operation in February, which marked a full-scale conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
However, the timing of any potential attack or specific targets have not been disclosed. U.S. officials have also indicated that no final decisions or new operational orders have been issued yet.
Trump remarked, "If I ask, Israel will join in two minutes," but emphasized, "We do not need anyone's help." He also acknowledged the risk of Iranian retaliation if Israel participates in the attacks.
Regarding the possibility of negotiations with Iran, Trump distanced himself from the idea, stating, "Iran wants to negotiate, but they are not ready to make a deal yet. They have not suffered enough pain."
Trump also warned of a strong response to the potential resumption of Houthi attacks on vessels.
He stated on Truth Social, "If the Houthis start attacking ships again, the U.S. will hold Iran accountable since the Houthis are a proxy for Iran. Both Iran and the Houthis will face significant military retaliation."
On the same day, the Houthis claimed to have attacked two Saudi tankers, the Ensilia and the Layla, with missiles and drones. Saudi authorities confirmed a fire on the Ensilia, but the status of the Layla remains unverified. No injuries to crew members have been reported.
The Houthis claimed their attacks were in response to Saudi Arabia violating its declared maritime blockade. Following Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has been transporting oil from its eastern oil fields to the Red Sea coast via pipelines.
If Houthi attacks continue, disruptions to oil transport in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait could expand, following similar issues in the Strait of Hormuz.
In Congress, there are ongoing efforts to limit Trump's military actions against Iran. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution on the same day, which would prevent military actions against Iran without congressional approval, with a vote of 214 in favor and 208 against.
However, a similar resolution failed in the Senate, with 47 votes in favor and 49 against. While the House resolution alone will not halt U.S. military operations, it reflects growing opposition within Congress regarding military actions against Iran.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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