President Donald Trump held a meeting on Friday with senior U.S. national security officials as his administration considers its next steps regarding the ongoing conflict involving Iran, according to a source familiar with the discussion.
The White House meeting, which is part of Trump’s routine engagements, came at a time when diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure a resolution to the crisis. However, the session ended without any final decision on the way forward.
Diplomatic delegations from Qatar and Pakistan reportedly travelled to Tehran in an attempt to help de-escalate tensions, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei, as cited by Iran’s state media. Pakistan’s Army Chief, Asim Munir, also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in late-night talks focused on preventing further escalation.
Iranian officials have acknowledged that significant differences remain between Tehran and Washington, stressing that more negotiations will be needed before any agreement can be reached.
Meanwhile, President Trump has reportedly been reviewing possible military options but has also paused action following appeals from Gulf allies. He recently decided to remain in Washington instead of traveling for personal engagements, citing the need to focus on national security matters.
Senior U.S. officials present at the meeting included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine.
Despite ongoing discussions, there is still no clarity on how the situation will be resolved, with officials divided between optimism over diplomacy and uncertainty about the remaining sticking points between both sides.
