Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, used a post on X Sunday to press President Trump on ending the conflict between the two countries, pointing to Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections as reason to act. “American voters have made their choice. Time for the White House to make its own,” he wrote. “Our 2-day proposal stands: meet the requirements, including an end to war on all fronts, and you will see results. Or choose war, and see our alert and battle-hardened Warriors rain down hell.”
The “2-day proposal” Araghchi referenced calls for the United States to agree to all of Iran’s demands and begin implementing them on the first day. If Iran judges on the second day that Washington is acting in good faith, it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz under new management.
Speaking to CNN by phone Sunday, Trump played down the chances the war would resume. “It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” he said. “The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary. They’re a failing nation. It just came out, you saw this year, 301% inflation. Highly unlikely it will be necessary.” He added: “So it’s highly unlikely I’ll have to. They’re withering away financially. We’ve hit them militarily. We could finish them off.”
A Divided White House
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump’s advisers and foreign allies have been racing since the midterms to shape his decision on whether to end the war or restart major combat operations. Vice President JD Vance has questioned whether the war was worth its political cost and, officials said, told the president before posting publicly that he intended to blame the election defeat on the conflict.
A separate camp, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper, has backed resuming major combat operations in recent briefings on military options, according to the Journal’s sourcing. Outside advisers described as hawkish have reportedly called Trump since Election Day arguing his legacy depends on forcing Iran to give up its nuclear program.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have favored tightening sanctions and maintaining the blockade on Iranian trade, officials said. Special envoy Steve Witkoff has pushed, like Vance, for continued diplomatic efforts toward a deal that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Other outside advisers have also urged Trump to end the conflict.
Iran Threatens European Bases
Complicating the picture, Iran warned this week that if war resumes and the U.S. uses bases in Europe, those bases would become targets. “If America uses its bases in Europe, including in Italy and Germany, Iran’s missiles will be fired towards Europe,” Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of parliament’s National Security Committee, told Euronews. “In the two previous wars we did not do this, but this time we will not let Europe’s assistance to America for an attack on Iran go without consequence,” he added.
Iran has demonstrated some capability to strike far beyond the region. On March 20, it fired two ballistic missiles at the U.S. base at Diego Garcia, roughly 2,500 miles from Iran; both missed their target, but the launch showed Iran can exceed its self-imposed 1,200-mile missile range, putting much of Western Europe within theoretical reach.
Spain has already barred the use of its bases for combat operations against Iran. A separate incident at RAF Fairford in Britain has raised questions in the UK about the risks of hosting U.S. operations against Iran.
Regional Stakes
Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states are watching closely to see whether they will ultimately be dealing with a weakened Iran under new leadership or an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-run government angered by a lack of regional support during the conflict.
With the administration divided over whether to pursue a negotiated end to the war or resume military action, the decision on how the conflict concludes, and on whose terms, remains unresolved.
