US President Donald Trump has left open the possibility of resuming large-scale military operations against Iran, stating that he will soon have to make a "major decision" about the continuation of the conflict.
In an interview with Axios, Trump said he is considering whether the United States should launch a new offensive against the Iranian regime.
"I have a big decision ahead of me. Do I want to go in and destroy the Iranian regime or not? It's a big decision. Anything can happen to me," the American president declared.
The statements come ahead of Trump's meeting with the leaders of the six Gulf countries, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The meeting is expected to be attended by the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. Trump said he wants to hear the views of US allies in the region before determining next steps.
"I want to know where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them," he said.
One of the key issues is whether Washington will attempt another diplomatic path with Tehran or revert to large-scale military operations.
Trump also claimed that Iran is in direct communication with the United States and that Tehran is seeking to reach an agreement.
The US president did not set a specific deadline for when he will make a final decision on how the US will act towards Iran.
