Trump Holds High-Level Meeting on U.S. Iran Strategy
President Donald Trump held a high-level Cabinet meeting at Camp David on July 31 as the White House grappled with the continuing U.S.-Iran conflict and the question of how to combine military pressure, economic sanctions and diplomacy. The meeting was the 13th Cabinet meeting of Trump's second term and the first to be televised from the presidential retreat, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials taking part. Iran was among the subjects Trump addressed publicly during the session, although the administration did not announce a new Iran policy as a direct result of the meeting. The strategic environment has changed significantly since that July discussion. The United States later paused plans for another major attack on Iran, while Washington has increasingly emphasized sanctions and maritime pressure. On August 24, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new sanctions campaign, and by August 25 Secretary of State Marco R...