Trump met with advisers on Iran options, sources say
The options include significantly expanding military action, the sources said.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.
The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz the primary flashpoint.
Key Headlines
- 'Progress was made' in talks with Oman over Strait of Hormuz traffic, Iran says
- Army confirms identity of service member killed in Iranian attack in Jordan
- US disabled another ship trying to break blockade, official confirms
- US struck site near Iraq-Iran border crossing, US official says
- Omani delegation visits Tehran for Strait of Hormuz talks
13th straight night of US airstrikes on Iran: CENTCOM
The U.S. is conducting airstrikes against Iranian military targets for the 13th consecutive night, U.S. Central Command said Thursday.
The strikes are "aimed to hold Iran accountable and diminish threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to commercial shipping," CENTCOM said.
Trump: Any damage done to ships will be paid for in Iranian assets
President Donald Trump claimed in a social media post that any further damage done to "Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto" will be paid for by Iranian assets seized by the U.S.
"Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls," Trump said in the post Thursday.
The president did not specify locations where his new decree applies, nor did he specify which seized assets will be used to pay for the damages.
"These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do," Trump added in the post.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Trump considering range of options to escalate strikes on Iran: Officials
President Donald Trump is considering a range of options to dramatically escalate American military strikes on Iran, two senior administration officials told ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl on Thursday.
The officials said that among options the president is considering is a return the level of full-scale attacks seen during the opening days of Operation Epic Fury -- and possible even more so.
The officials point to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments earlier Thursday, in which he said Iran would pay a disproportionate price for their actions -- far beyond "an eye for an eye," referencing remarks he said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made recently.
"The president's policy is a head for an eye. I mean, honestly, that's what it's going to be. I mean, they will pay a very heavy price," Rubio said Thursday morning at the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines.
US forces have redirected 12 vessels since resuming blockade
U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces have redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled one to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports or coastal areas since resuming the naval blockade nine days ago.