Trump weighs major Iran strike as Pakistan pushes peace channel
Why it matters: Reuters reported Pakistani mediation raised hopes of talks, helping lift stocks and ease oil prices.
President Donald Trump said he is close to deciding whether to launch a much larger U.S. strike on Iran as the conflict widened into the Red Sea and Pakistan worked to revive diplomacy. Trump told Axios he was considering an attack “bigger than ever before,” while U.S. forces carried out a 13th straight night of strikes on Iranian targets, CNBC reported. Reuters, citing Pakistani sources, said Iran Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni traveled to Islamabad for exploratory talks with Pakistani leaders and Army Chief Asim Munir after a Chinese push for mediation. Markets reacted quickly, with stocks rising and oil falling on hopes of a diplomatic off-ramp. Trump also warned Iran would be held responsible for any further Houthi attacks after the group claimed strikes on two Saudi oil tankers.