"We'll Have to Drop the Hammer on Them": Trump's New Threat to Iran

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran at a rally in Iowa, saying that if no alternative is found, the US will be forced to "drop the hammer on them." According to a report in The Atlantic, strikes are expected to resume after the elections, and Trump is evaluating the performance of Pentagon officials.

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran last night at a campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa, two days before the midterm congressional elections. Trump said the strikes have not yet resumed because he seeks to save lives, but clarified: "At some point we'll have to drop the hammer on them." Meanwhile, The Atlantic magazine reveals that advisors to the president estimate that strikes against Iran may resume shortly after the elections. Trump is considering options for strikes lasting hours, days, or weeks, including a campaign against the nuclear program. Additionally, the president is inquiring about the performance of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and is frustrated by the political damage to Republicans. Associates claim that Hegseth presents a rosy picture of the war to please the president. Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei proposing to renew direct negotiations, but did not specify what Iran would receive in return. The White House continues to express public support for Hegseth and Caine.