CBS News reported on the preparations, citing several unnamed “sources with direct knowledge of the plan.” On Friday, Trump called his closest advisers to discuss new strikes with them.
The US is preparing for a new attack despite ongoing diplomatic negotiations. As of Friday afternoon, however, the final decision had not yet been made.
Cited sources say that the operation could begin already this weekend, which is extended in the US due to Monday’s national holiday, Memorial Day.
Americans always celebrate this holiday on the last Monday in May. They remember members of the US armed forces who fell in any conflict. Memorial Day is also a celebration of the end of hostilities in the American Civil War in 1865.
Trump rushes BACK to the White House
– Weekend golf plans scrapped
– Top officials cancel holiday plans
– ‘US preparing new strikes against Iran’ – CBS
– Iran’s army READY for ‘enemy foolishness’ – Tasnim pic.twitter.com/a6om7bAkaj— MAXIMUS NEWS🔥 (@MaximusNews01) May 23, 2026
The newspaper Le Figaro wrote that Trump is talking about “the last big and decisive military operation”, after which he could announce victory and the end of the strikes. At the same time, the French newspaper noted that the head of the White House had repeatedly threatened to resume bombing Iran in recent weeks, after which he changed his mind at the last minute.
One of the indications that the renewed strikes are being considered is that Trump will not attend the wedding of his eldest son, Donald, in the Bahamas this weekend. The President has Donald Jr. with his first wife, Ivana Trump.
Trump intends to stay in Washington “for reasons related to state affairs”, it was heard from the president’s entourage. According to the head of the White House, his son’s wedding “is not well timed” because his work schedule is “filled with the conflict with Iran and other matters”. The president also canceled his plans to play golf this weekend.
According to CBS News, some members of the American military and intelligence community also canceled their private program for the weekend in anticipation of possible attacks. According to former Navy Commander Kirk Lippold, it is only a matter of time before the US resumes attacks on Iran. “It’s not a question of ‘if,’ it’s a question of ‘when,'” Lippold told Fox News.
The US and Iran have mostly refrained from attacks since the beginning of the temporary truce in early April, thus gaining time for indirect negotiations on a longer-term agreement. But apparently the talks have not yet produced tangible results.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the indirect negotiations so far “brought some movement, which is good.” At the same time, however, he moderated expectations of a peace agreement, referring to unresolved differences of opinion regarding the Iranian nuclear program.
Rubio described Iran’s efforts to create a toll system in the Strait of Hormuz as “unacceptable”. The US and its allies “must have a plan B” in case Tehran refuses to open the strait.
“Red Lines”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told CBS News that Trump has made his red lines clear. One of them is that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon and cannot even keep its enriched uranium.
“The president always retains all options, and the Pentagon’s job is to be ready to implement any decision that the commander-in-chief might make,” Kelly said. “The president clearly said what the consequences will be if Iran does not conclude the agreement,” she added.
Tehran responded to information about a possible renewal of US airstrikes with the threat of “overwhelming retaliation”. “Our armed forces have recovered during the ceasefire to such an extent that if Trump commits another senseless act and starts a war again, the consequences for the United States will be much worse than on the first day of the war,” Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Saturday.
