'Window for military action narrowing': Trump urged to launch new campaign against Iran before January

US President Donald Trump's advisers have urged him to launch fresh military strikes against Iran before a new Democratic-controlled Congress takes office in January, warning that the window for military action could narrow once lawmakers return to Washington, according to a report by NBC News.Citing two US officials, NBC News reported that administration and defence officials had told Trump that a new Congress could complicate any military campaign through investigations, restrictions on funding or resolutions seeking to block further strikes. Some advisers have therefore pushed for renewed military action before January, although the president has yet to make a decision.Trump received an updated briefing on Thursday on the Iranian threat and the military options available to Washington. The meeting was attended by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine. According to the report, Hegseth has continued to advocate renewed strikes, while other members of the administration have cautioned that further escalation could derail diplomatic efforts.Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, has been pursuing negotiations with Tehran in an attempt to prevent another round of conflict. A fresh military campaign, if authorised, could be shorter but more intense than previous operations, with Iran's oil and gas infrastructure and nuclear facilities, including the Pickaxe Mountain site, among the potential targets discussed with Trump.A White House official told NBC News that Trump had "all options available at any time", adding that only the president knew what he would do and when.The push for a military decision comes amid parallel diplomatic efforts to prevent tensions from escalating further. Qatar has been mediating between Washington and Tehran, with two Middle East government officials telling the Associated Press that Iran was reviewing proposals from Doha aimed at resolving differences over its nuclear programme.Trump also spoke to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Friday about efforts to de-escalate tensions and secure a comprehensive agreement. The Qatari leader emphasised dialogue and diplomatic solutions, warning against further escalation and stressing the importance of protecting maritime navigation and energy supplies.Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has also held telephone conversations with regional counterparts, including officials from Iraq and Tunisia, to discuss diplomatic efforts. Tehran's proposed framework reportedly includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, setting a timetable for negotiations and addressing its nuclear programme.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.