Donald Trump says he is "close to making a decision" on a massive strike against Iran

President Donald Trump told Axios Thursday that he was nearing a final call on launching an extraordinarily large strike against Iran, adding that the country had not yet endured sufficient punishment and that the U.S. military stood ready. The remarks come amid an ongoing American military campaign in Iran that remains broadly unpopular. Political scientist Robert Pape, who previously taught at a U.S. military institution, warned Friday that such an attack—particularly if aimed at Tehran’s power grid—could trigger catastrophic humanitarian fallout, drawing on historical patterns in which mass civilian punishment deepens resistance rather than forcing surrender. The situation highlights rising concerns over a potential escalation in a conflict already marked by devastating regional consequences.