Has the US Military Run Out of Options? Iran Denies Talks with US, Calls Trump the 'Tenth' TACO

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei strongly rejected U.S. President Trump’s statements during a regular press conference on Monday (3rd), emphasizing that Tehran is not currently engaged in any form of negotiations with Washington and has no plans to receive or dispatch delegations in the near future.

Iranian media also pointed out that this marks the tenth time President Trump has retreated from issuing a 'decisive' military threat against Tehran, warning that such repeated backtracking is undermining America’s deterrent power.

Baghaei clarified that Foreign Minister Araghchi’s trip on that day was for a pilgrimage, not for foreign talks, and stressed that all of Iran’s negotiation personnel remain within the country.

He stated that Iran’s current dialogue is solely with Oman, focusing on navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz, and both sides hope to quickly reach an agreement on a temporary safe passage to restore vessel traffic.

He emphasized that this is purely a bilateral matter between Iran and Oman, and the involvement of other countries or forces will not alter the nature of these talks.

Regarding the current situation in the Strait, Baghaei warned that as long as the U.S. continues provocative actions and maintains its naval blockade, there will be no substantial change in the situation.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, on the same day, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced it had shot down a U.S.-made MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz.

This diplomatic dispute stems from President Trump’s public remarks on Saturday (1st), when he declared he had canceled a previously planned large-scale military strike and instead aimed to swiftly reach an agreement with Iran to resolve nuclear concerns and reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, CNN reported exclusively on the 3rd, citing unnamed sources, that a U.S. Central Command intelligence officer sent an email last Wednesday to military analysts seeking 'novel and unconventional' ideas for pressuring and punishing Iran—indicating that the Pentagon is actively brainstorming next steps.

Sources described this open solicitation of ideas via email as highly unusual, reflecting the Trump administration’s desire to force Iranian concessions under its own terms, despite having very limited viable options.

In response, U.S. Central Command spokesperson Hawkins framed the move as part of the unit’s consistent culture of innovation, stating that Commander Cooper always welcomes input from members at all levels of the team to achieve optimal operational effectiveness.

The report also noted that the Trump administration is internally assessing the possibility of escalating military action, including potentially resuming strikes on Iran’s remaining nuclear facilities. However, sources admitted that since these facilities are deeply buried underground, missiles and bombs alone may fail to inflict decisive damage.

Another option discussed is a more symbolic, limited-scale 'performative' strike targeting similar sites previously attacked, allowing Trump to declare victory and withdraw without actually achieving the original goal of completely eliminating Iran’s nuclear program.

The report further indicated that regardless of the military method used, none would likely resolve the core of the conflict—the issue of Iran’s de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A source remarked: 'Ultimately, the president (Trump) still wants to reach an agreement, so he keeps looking for ways to respond forcefully while finding a way out. Sometimes you need creative minds, especially when conventional options are running out.'

The Wall Street Journal’s analysis on the 3rd suggested that after days of threatening a new offensive against Iran, Trump’s pivot to diplomacy shows he still hopes to achieve through negotiations what military action failed to accomplish.

The report argued that the key lies in whether America’s Gulf allies can make tangible progress quickly—restoring at least partial passage through the Strait of Hormuz—to pave the way for subsequent nuclear negotiations. But if talks stall again, Trump may repeat his past pattern: temporarily shelving military threats before reviving them opportunistically.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Mehr News Agency offered a harsher critique, stating this is already the tenth time Trump has retreated after issuing a 'decisive' military threat against Tehran. It argued that America’s repeated hesitations not only weaken its own deterrent capability but also prompt regional allies and adversaries alike to reassess the true balance of power.

Analysts suggest the Iran issue is no longer just a diplomatic tug-of-war but now significantly impacts Trump’s domestic politics and strategic position. If the current strategy persists without adjustment, the White House risks falling into an increasingly inescapable predicament.