Trump at a Crossroads on Iran: ‘Do I Want To Go In and Annihilate Them or Do I Not?’

The president has a long track record of letting us know what he’s thinking.

Barak Ravid: President Trump told Axios Thursday that he’s approaching a critical juncture in the Iran war over whether to restart massive attacks in an effort to bring the conflict to a close. “I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.” Though Trump has made similar threats before, his comments come ahead of a planned meeting Tuesday with leaders from six Gulf countries — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman — on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The meeting could shape the next phase of the war, including whether to make another push for diplomacy or intensify military action. If Trump wants to resume major combat operations, he would need buy-in from his regional allies…. What he’s saying: Trump made clear in the interview that he wants to use the meeting at the UN to hear directly from regional allies about the war’s next steps. “I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them,” Trump said.

The Iranian people are waiting for that moment. They are dying for it.

Trump says he has a ‘big decision’ coming up on Iran: ‘Do I want to go in and annihilate them?’

By Ronny Reyes, NY Post, Sep. 17, 2026, 5:21 p.m. ET

President Trump said Thursday that he was at a crossroads over whether to renew attacks in Iran to wipe out the regime and bring the war to an end.

“I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not?” he told Axios. “It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.”

Trump’s comments echo previous threats he’s levied against Tehran since the war began.

But this time, he said, his next move is likely to be influenced by his meetings with Gulf allies at next week’s United Nations General Assembly meeting.

“I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them,” Trump added.

The UN Security Council already saw a clash on Thursday after Russia and China vetoed a bid to extend an expert panel to monitor sanctions against Iran and the regime’s nuclear program.

Jennifer Locetta, an American ambassador to the United Nations, slammed the vetoes as a clear “act of obstructionism” that highlights Russia and China’s support of “rogue regimes.”

Meanwhile, Iran allegedly scored another hit on US aircraft this week, with two unmanned MQ-1 Predator drones shot out of the sky in recent days, CBS News reported.

The older-model UAVs — estimated at about $4 million each — have been used to protect the Strait of Hormuz under the US naval blockade, according to the outlet.

The US has lost at least 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the war began, which is a loss of about $720 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office report released this week.

Iran has repeatedly stated that its attacks on US military troops and equipment in the Middle East would not end until its control over the Strait of Hormuz is recognized.

With peace negotiations still in limbo, the regime issued its latest ultimatum that the strait would remain closed until Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are ousted from power.

AUTHOR

Pamela Geller

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