World News

Trump planning ‘something much bigger’ after Iran war

Trump said that the US could strike Pickaxe mountain, a heavily fortified facility where Iran is thought to be developing nuclear capabilities.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The Trump administration is developing a post-war Middle East strategy aimed at containing Iran, strengthening regional cooperation among US allies and expanding normalization agreements between Israel and its neighbors, two US officials and two other sources familiar with the effort told Axios.

The strategy remains in the early stages and is intended to shape US policy in the region after the Iran war ends and through the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term.

The Oct. 27 election in Israel and the US midterm elections in November are also factors in the planning.

Axios reported that Trump has said in private conversations that he is working on “something much bigger” in the Middle East after the Iran war.

One proposal calls for establishing a regional alignment of US allies designed to contain Iran, with Washington serving as a guarantor.

Another element would focus on resolving issues stemming from the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

That effort could include advancing the next phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, securing a security agreement between Israel and Syria and implementing the Israel-Lebanon agreement.

Officials are also considering a renewed push to expand the Abraham Accords, including an effort to reach a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Work on the strategy is underway among senior Trump administration officials as well as at the working level across US government agencies, officials said.

Trump has met twice with senior advisers in recent weeks to discuss the emerging strategy and consider proposals, according to the sources.

Separately, Trump said Friday that the US could strike Pickaxe mountain, a heavily fortified Iranian facility where Tehran has allegedly been expanding its nuclear infrastructure.

The president reiterated that Iran would not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon.

“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, before adding, “We may hit Pickaxe very soon…if there was anything going on with Pickaxe.”

Share
Published by
Miriam Metzinger
Tags: Donald Trump Middle East Pickaxe Mountain

Recent Posts

  • Israel News

Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams Takes Advisory Role at Israel’s TurboGen

The position extends Adams’ involvement with Israel and its technology sector after leaving New York…

5 hours ago
  • World News

Iran demands release of $24 billion, no interference in nuclear program, as conditions to end war

The IRGC also demanded that Israeli military forces withdraw from Lebanon and that the blockade…

6 hours ago
  • World News

Satellite images show construction surge at Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site

President Donald Trump has also publicly raised the possibility of a US attack on Pickaxe…

7 hours ago
  • Videos

WATCH: PM spokesman launches scathing attack on UK officials behind Israeli sanctions

‘No one here in Israel wants to see Ed Miliband in Israel.’

9 hours ago
  • Israel News

Ahead of Rosh Hashana, Israel’s population surges past 10.3 million

Israel’s overall fertility rate remains close to three children per woman, making it a clear…

9 hours ago
  • Jewish Diaspora & Antisemitism

Ralph Lauren boycotted over Gal Gadot feature

Ralph Lauren's store locator lists three locations in Israel: Tel Aviv, Rishon LeZion, and the…

9 hours ago