Trump Faces Fork In Iran War: Pursue a Renewed Ceasefire Or All Out War

Mediators are pursuing a 10-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, but President Donald Trump is also considering escalating to an all-out war, according to a new report.

Axios detailed that Trump has not made a decision yet, but officials believe the next days will be crucial in his decision.

Washington is preparing for both scenarios. It has told Israel to refrain from taking any action that could derail any chance for de-escalation, but has been making plans for the opposite scenario at the same time.

Mediators Qatar, Egypt and Pakistan, among others, presented parties with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire that would stop the fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give time to save the Memorandum of Understanding. No side has signaled openness to accept the proposal.

In the meantime, the U.S. Central Command saying it conducted a 10th night of strikes to "degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz."

However, a new report claimed that expanded U.S. operations against Iran could be hampered by reduced stockpiles and damage sustained by bases and troops in the region.

Speaking to The Washington Post, a U.S. official said that Washington is "planning for a wider war," with the Pentagon increasing the amount of military aircraft in the region.

However, the official noted that they could be limited by the mentioned factors, as well as troops being potentially unprepared for eventual ground operations inside Iran.

A U.S. service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday, taking the death toll in the war with Iran to 17, according to the U.S. Central Command. More than 400 troops have been wounded.

Another attack against an American base in Jordan killed two service member, leading the U.S. to launch airstrikes on Sunday targeting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Yemen's Houthi rebels, allies of Iran, also declared a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia on Monday.

The group said in a document that the decision is based on the "equation of 'an eye for an eye'" and will "respond to all escalation with all escalation, thus solidifying this equation."

It went on to threaten Riyadh further, saying it is ready "for all options, and any foolish act committed by the reckless Saudi enemy through all escalation will be met with a comprehensive and decisive escalation by Allah's will and power."