US President Donald Trump has disclosed that he is considering launching an attack on Iran on a scale beyond all previous attacks following the U.S. military’s 12th day of consecutive strikes on Wednesday.
The president told Axios that he is “considering a massive attack” against the country that would be “bigger than ever before.”
“I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” Trump said.
Trump added that Israel would join the US military’s operation if he asked, but said that the US does not need the help in order to carry out the strikes he is considering.
Addressing the attempts to revive talks to end the conflict, Trump said that the Iranian regime has not “received enough pain yet.”
Earlier on Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Trump’s military stance toward Tehran as a “head for an eye.”
Rubio made the comment to reporters at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ 2026 annual summit in Manila, Philippines, in response to a threat from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Tehran’s defense strategy against the U.S. was an “eye for an eye.”
“The president’s policy is a head for an eye,” Rubio said. “I mean honestly, that’s what it’s going to be. I mean, [Iran] will pay a very heavy price for the things they’re doing.”
The U.S. military completed a 12th consecutive day of strikes against Tehran on Wednesday evening, according to U.S. Central Command. Both sides have accused the other of violating the ceasefire agreement adopted under a memorandum of understanding last month.
Trump told Axios that the Iranians “want to negotiate” but that they are not yet prepared to reach a final agreement.
“They haven’t received enough pain yet,” he said.