President Trump revealed Sunday that he is considering “blowing up” all of Iran and that “very big things are going to happen soon,” as he left a retreat at Camp David a day early so he could return to the White House. In a call with Fox News’ Trey Yingst, Trump laid out three possible paths for Iran: make a deal with the United States or Trump will choose between “letting them rot economically” or eliminating the regime entirely. “He tells Fox News that he is in ‘decisive mode’ and that very important things are going to happen in the not-too-distant future,” Yingst recounted. President Trump is weighing several options regarding Iran as the conflict enters its seventh month. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin An Iranian flag planted in the rubble of a police station damaged in airstrikes in Tehran, Iran. Getty Images “The president described the current options on the table as eliminating Iran, letting it rot economically or reaching a deal,” he added. “My question is: if and when I blow up the entire nation? They better behave.” Trump’s warning came as Iran’s regime claimed it had intelligence that the United States was planning a new attack and said it would retaliate against US bases and other interests in the region. Meanwhile, the State Department issued a security alert on Saturday saying there was a possibility of unforeseen escalation in the Middle East and that Americans should exercise increased vigilance and be on the lookout for possible flight cancellations and airspace closures. Trump, however, tried to downplay the concerns, telling Yingst that “this weekend is no different than any other weekend.” The standoff comes as Iranian officials are expected to visit New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, creating a possible opening for another round of deals. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) conduct live-fire missions during Operation Epic Fury in the US Central Command area of responsibility. Central Command When asked if he would meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the UN, Trump said he would “probably be open to it.” Trump told Axios last week that he had “a big decision ahead of him” about whether to “wipe out” the Iranian regime. The president said Sunday that some of the officials are “hiding like rats” and accused Tehran of failing to bring people to the negotiating table who have the authority to reach a deal with the United States. Meanwhile, the US naval blockade remains in place, putting additional pressure on Iran’s already battered economy. In this photo released by the U.S. Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) fires a Tomahawk land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury, Sunday, March 1, 2026, at sea. Getty Images US Central Command said on Saturday that US forces had escorted more than one billion barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz in recent months, while protecting the transit of more than 2,000 commercial vessels and helping clear shipping lanes of mines. Iran, however, has disputed CENTCOM’s claims, with an Iranian spokesman calling the US claim a “failed psychological operation.” But tensions elsewhere in the region continued to rise on Sunday. Iran-backed Houthi forces launched a ballistic missile toward the Saudi capital of Riyadh, according to Saudi authorities, after the rebels attacked the kingdom’s critical oil infrastructure and disconnected a major oil pipeline. Trump also said the United States was in “constant communication” with the Houthis and indicated that they had agreed not to fight the United States. The developments came as Trump abruptly cut short his weekend at Camp David and returned to the White House on Saturday night, a day earlier than originally planned. The White House gave no explanation for the sudden change of plans.
