President Donald Trump indicated Thursday that he will soon decide whether to resume or expand U.S. military operations against Iran to ensure the country's nuclear program cannot be revived.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after meeting with his national security advisers, Trump said Iran is already largely destroyed and would take more than two decades to rebuild. "I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I'll have to," he stated. "You'll know soon enough."

The remarks came during Trump's weekly intelligence briefing, the first such discussion involving the president and top advisers on Iran since the November 3 midterm elections. U.S. Central Command has stepped up preparations for potential renewed strikes, though no formal directive has been issued.

Trump outlined the choice ahead: whether to go further with strikes to certify that Iran's nuclear ambitions are permanently ended. He noted the administration is also considering continued economic pressure or a diplomatic agreement with significant concessions from Tehran.

Reports indicate that Washington and Tehran are reviewing proposals mediated by Qatar regarding the Iranian nuclear program. Trump has maintained that the United States controls the situation and that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon.

The comments follow limited U.S. strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island earlier this week in response to Iranian actions. The broader conflict, which began earlier in the year with joint U.S. and Israeli operations targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites, has included Iranian retaliation and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump emphasized that a decision would come quickly, balancing the desire to avoid further destruction with the need to prevent future threats.