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Trump says decision on new Iran strikes or a deal will come very soon

Trump spoke with Qatar's emir, whose country has been mediating, as Iran's Revolutionary Guard said two more tankers hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Donald Trump in 2025
Donald Trump in 2025. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
7 news outlets reported this
Liberal2 outletsTrump's looming Iran decision and energy pricesCenter3 outletsQatar-mediated diplomacy as the region stays on edgeConservative2 outletsTrump's promised decision, tanker hits and war's costs
Published 4 min readMoney and daily life
Overview

President Trump said on Thursday that people will "know very soon" whether he makes a deal to end the war with Iran or orders new strikes to "destroy what is left" of the country. On Friday he spoke by phone with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, according to the emir's office, which said they discussed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. Qatar has been mediating between Washington and Tehran.

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, held calls with regional counterparts. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said on Friday that two more oil tankers struck mines and burned in or near the . Iranian media had reported on Thursday that five tankers and a tugboat caught fire.

CBS News reports that maritime officials have not confirmed any of the incidents and that Trump has accused Iran of inventing such attacks to push up energy prices. According to Semafor, oil prices briefly neared $100 . The war began on Feb. 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

CBS News reports that many Gulf capitals fear Trump will order major new strikes, and that the White House had given no information about the call by Friday morning.

Key figures

Three sides of the story

Liberal2 outlets

Trump's looming Iran decision and energy prices

CBS News opens with Trump's remark that the world "will know very soon" whether he strikes or makes a deal. It follows with the call to Qatar's emir, which a US official confirmed, and the Iranian tanker claims, noting that maritime officials have not confirmed them and that Trump accuses Iran of lying to push up energy prices. It also cites GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan on gas possibly falling below $4.

Semafor frames the story through markets: oil briefly neared $100 a barrel on "revived concerns" of renewed war. It cites Rapidan Energy's 80% likelihood of fighting resuming. Semafor adds that some analysts forecast Trump could turn to his legacy abroad, since the midterm election losses have limited his power at home.

Center3 outlets

Qatar-mediated diplomacy as the region stays on edge

The Las Vegas Review-Journal runs a wire report that opens with Trump's phone call with Qatar's emir, as described by the emir's office, while the region stays on edge over possible renewed US military action against Iran. It quotes the emir's statement on mediation aimed at "a comprehensive agreement that ends the crisis." It then turns to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's calls with his Iraqi and Tunisian counterparts, in which, according to Iraq's state media, he outlined Iran's vision for resuming negotiations with the US.

It notes that Gulf Arab states, which came under heavy Iranian fire earlier in the war, want to avoid a new escalation. The same report adds airstrikes on a market in Yemen's Taiz province that the health ministry says killed at least 30 people, and Italians detained in the West Bank. NewsNation's short item is headlined "Two oil tankers struck by mines in Strait of Hormuz" and says Trump spoke with Qatar's leader on Friday about diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions.

Conservative2 outlets

Trump's promised decision, tanker hits and war's costs

The American Conservative's "Iran War Day 252" roundup opens with Trump's Thursday remark to reporters that he was close to deciding whether to restart strikes against Iran: "You will know very soon." The outlet calls the GOP's midterm losses earlier in the week "stunning" and says many read them as a judgment on the war and its economic costs. It adds that since those losses, this is the first time Trump has raised the possibility of new strikes.

It says three tankers were reported hit on Friday morning while trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran's IRGC saying two struck mines on "unauthorized" routes. It also notes Iran's claim to have shot down a US drone over Qeshm Island and says the Qatar call reportedly covered a possible diplomatic resolution. The roundup closes with Brent crude just under $99 and AAA prices of $4.07 for gasoline and $6.23 for diesel.

The Washington Times headlines Trump discussing de-escalation with the Qatari emir while diplomacy continues, and says the region is bracing for possible escalation in Washington's war with Iran.

Money and daily life

For drivers, GasBuddy put the national average for gas at $4.06 a gallon on Thursday and early Friday. Its analyst Patrick De Haan told CBS News he expected a dip below $4 soon, and said diesel could fall below $6 by Thanksgiving. AAA reports regular gasoline at $4.07 and diesel at $6.23, according to The American Conservative.

All sources: 7 articles from 7 outlets

Liberal (2)

Center (3)

Conservative (2)

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Strait of Hormuz

The narrow sea passage between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula through which tankers leave the Persian Gulf. About a fifth of the world's oil normally passes through it, so any threat there moves fuel prices worldwide.

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Brent crude and the barrel

Brent is the benchmark price for most of the world's oil, and WTI is the US benchmark. Oil is priced per barrel, about 159 litres.

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Houthis

An armed movement in Yemen, aligned with Iran, that has controlled the capital Sanaa and the north of the country since 2014. Since late 2023 it has attacked ships in the Red Sea, disrupting a main trade route between Asia and Europe.

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