US PREPARES FRESH MILITARY STRIKE OPTIONS AGAINST IRAN AS NUCLEAR TALKS STALL

The United States is preparing fresh military strike options against Iran, according to reporting by CBS News and CNBC, as diplomatic efforts to secure a nuclear agreement remain deadlocked.

The development follows a near-escalation on Tuesday, May 20, when President Trump was reportedly within an hour of ordering a new strike on Iran before being persuaded to stand down. Trump had announced a postponement on May 18 after personally receiving calls from leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, who urged more time for diplomacy.

The current standoff is rooted in a conflict that began with Operation Epic Fury — a joint US-Israel military campaign that ran from February 28 to May 5, 2026. The operation resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but triggered a massive Iranian counter-offensive and widespread retaliation. A ceasefire was reached on April 7-8, after which the conflict shifted to Strait of Hormuz brinkmanship, with Iranian forces limiting tanker traffic through the waterway that carries approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has since threatened to extend the conflict "beyond the region" and deliver "crushing blows in places you do not expect" if the United States or Israel resume offensive operations.

Tehran is currently reviewing the latest American nuclear and diplomatic proposal. Previous Iranian counter-proposals have been rejected by Washington as falling short on uranium enrichment commitments. Mediation efforts have been conducted through Pakistani intermediaries, though talks remain at an impasse. With fresh military options now being prepared, the window for a diplomatic resolution is narrowing.

May 23, 2026

Sources: CBS News, CNBC