US Weighing New Military Strikes on Iran as Trump Cancels Weekend Plans, Media Reports

The United States is actively considering launching fresh military strikes against Iran, according to reports published Friday by two major American media outlets, CBS News and Axios, raising alarm as diplomatic efforts continue through Pakistani mediation.

The reports surfaced within hours of President Donald Trump making the unusual announcement that he would not be attending his son’s wedding this weekend, citing unspecified matters related to government duties and his commitment to the country. Trump stated that remaining in Washington during what he called an important period was a personal priority, though he offered no further explanation. The White House had earlier confirmed a separate change in his plans, announcing he would not travel to his New Jersey golf resort as originally scheduled but would instead stay in the capital.

Both CBS and Axios were careful to note that no final decision on new military action has been reached. However, Axios, citing two unnamed sources, reported that Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the pace and outcome of ongoing negotiations with Iran over the past several days, and that his position has visibly shifted over the course of the week — moving away from a preference for diplomacy and toward seriously considering ordering a strike.

CBS reported that members of the US military and intelligence community had begun cancelling their holiday weekend plans in anticipation of possible imminent strikes — a development widely interpreted as a significant operational signal. When approached by AFP for comment on the reports, the White House declined to respond. However, a White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, told CBS that the President had been unambiguous about the consequences Iran would face if it failed to reach a deal.

Diplomatic efforts remain active in parallel. Pakistan, which has been serving as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, dispatched its military chief to the Iranian capital in what is understood to be a last-minute push to finalize an agreement and avert further military escalation. Trump did not take questions from the press corps traveling with him upon his return from a speech in New York state, a departure from his usual practice.