United States President, Donald Trump, met senior members of his national security team on Saturday to chart the next steps on the Iran conflict, according to a source familiar with the discussions, a day before he warned Tehran that it must act quickly or face devastating consequences.
“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! President DJT,” Trump wrote on social media Sunday.
The high-level meeting took place at the president’s Virginia golf club and included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, the source said.
It came shortly after Trump returned to Washington from a high-profile trip to China, which maintains close ties with Iran.
Trump has reportedly become increasingly frustrated with Tehran’s approach to diplomatic negotiations, as well as the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its effect on global energy markets.
During his China visit, Trump and his advisers paused on making a final decision regarding Iran, with officials saying they wanted to assess the outcome of his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping before deciding on their next move.
In recent days, Trump has been giving more serious consideration to the possibility of renewed military action against Iran as a means of pressuring Tehran into a negotiated settlement, despite his stated preference for diplomacy, according to CNN reporting.
Another meeting between Trump and his national security team is expected early this week as discussions continue over the conflict.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has reportedly drawn up multiple military targeting options should Trump approve further strikes, including potential attacks on energy and infrastructure facilities inside Iran.
Axios was first to report on Saturday’s meeting.
Trump also held a call on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a spokesman for the Israeli leader and a U.S. official cited by CNN.
On the Iranian side, there are no signs that senior officials are prepared to yield. Iranian media reported that Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, met with top Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pakistan has played a mediating role in recent U.S.–Iran discussions.
During those talks, Iranian officials accused the United States of contributing to instability in the Middle East.
According to the Iran-linked Tasnim news agency, Pezeshkian said the U.S. and Israel “have always tried to pit Islamic nations against one another through divisive projects and by fostering distrust” even as “Iran seeks sincere, stable relations based on good neighborliness with the region’s Islamic countries.”
