Donald Trump Threatens New Military Action Against Iran as Domestic Fuel Prices Rise
Donald Trump raised the prospect of fresh military strikes against Iran during a Republican midterm election rally in Florida on Friday, October 23, 2026, as the ongoing conflict neared its eighth month, detikNews reported. Addressing supporters in Fort Myers, the U.S. president defended past operations and warned that Tehran must agree to a negotiated settlement or face renewed force. The statements follow a February 28, 2026, start date for the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran, which triggered regional missile and drone exchanges and the effective closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Claims Two Operations Damaged Iran Nuclear Capacity
During his campaign speech, Trump pointed to two specific military engagements carried out by U.S. forces against Iran, claiming they severely damaged Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. He referenced “Operation Midnight Hammer” and “Operation Epic Fury” as the vehicles for degrading Iran’s enrichment capacity.
“We’ve wiped out Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity through Operation Midnight Hammer,” Trump told the crowd, according to detikNews. “You remember that late-night event, one of them, and we finished off the rest through Operation Epic Fury.”
Trump then suggested that Washington could initiate further strikes if Iran refuses to negotiate. “We might do another little ‘Epic Fury,’ or they’ll agree [to negotiate],” he stated, adding that if Tehran is smart, it will take up serious talks immediately.
U.S. President Questions Timing of War Conclusion
The latest threats contrast with earlier statements from the U.S. president regarding the timing of military actions and diplomatic resolutions. The New York Times reported that the U.S. and Israel drew up plans to renew attacks on Iran following the midterm elections. On Friday, however, he remarked that the U.S. could end the war quickly while questioning whether Washington should pursue a rapid conclusion or let the conflict taper off gradually. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts mediated by Qatar and Pakistan have hit an impasse, with both sides maintaining rigid demands. A memorandum of understanding signed in June 2026 has stalled amid ongoing disputes over regional navigation and the critical energy shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.
White House Declines to Confirm Reports of Iran Strikes
Reports from The New York Times cited by CNBC Indonesia and ANTARA News indicate that the U.S. and Israeli militaries have drafted plans to renew strikes on Iran following the midterm elections. While the reporting notes that it remains unclear whether Trump will approve the proposed operations, the president has previously vetoed major combat expansions earlier in the year.
A White House official declined to confirm the reports, telling The New York Times that the administration does not comment on potential military planning, as noted by CNBC Indonesia. Outside of the diplomatic and military tracks, Trump told reporters after returning from a rally in South Carolina that Washington is not currently negotiating with Iran, stating that “something is going to happen, one way or the other, in the near future,” according to ANTARA News.