President Donald Trump is weighing his next moves in the escalating standoff with Iran, including the possibility of resuming a bombing campaign that the White House had paused earlier this month, CNN reports on Monday, April 27, 2026. The administration has kept key military options on the table even as an open‑ended ceasefire and a tight US‑led blockade on Iranian oil and ports remain in effect.
In early April, Trump announced a two‑week suspension of an aggressive bombing campaign targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, citing a 10‑point proposal from Tehran that he described as a “workable basis” for negotiations. That pause came just hours before a self‑imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil shipments.
Since then, the US has extended the ceasefire multiple times, with the White House saying it wants to give diplomacy more time while keeping maximum pressure on Iran through sanctions and the naval blockade. Officials have made clear, however, that the pause in large‑scale air strikes is not a permanent end to the campaign and depends on Iran’s actions.
Senior US officials and Pentagon sources tell CNN that Trump is now reviewing several options for escalating or resuming military action if Iran fails to meet Washington’s core demands, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and curbing elements of its military and nuclear activity. Those options range from renewed targeted bombing of infrastructure to broader measures that could involve deeper strikes across Iranian territory.
Military planners have warned that many of the remaining escalation options carry a high risk of casualties and could further destabilize an already volatile region. At the same time, Trump has repeatedly signaled that he is keeping the option of a “massive” or “one‑night” bombing campaign on the table, should diplomacy with Tehran collapse.
The prospect of a resumed bombing campaign has heightened concerns among regional allies and global markets, especially because of Iran’s ability to retaliate against US bases, shipping lanes, or partner countries. The US blockade of Iranian oil exports has already tightened global energy supplies, and renewed large‑scale strikes could further disrupt shipping in the Persian Gulf and raise oil prices worldwide.
On the diplomatic front, mediators including Pakistan have urged Washington and Tehran to extend the ceasefire and pursue direct talks, but Iran has described parts of the US‑led proposal as “unrealistic” and has so far refused to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. As the White House considers its next steps, the world is watching whether Trump will choose to deepen pressure with renewed bombing or continue to rely on economic and diplomatic leverage to force Iran to the negotiating table.