Trump says he faces decision on Iran conflict, weighing “good way or bad way”
Version 2: Kommersant added a fuller account of the same statement, including Trump's remarks at the White House, his claim that Iran is abandoning plans for nuclear weapons, and the background on the February operation, the June memorandum and the 60-day diplomatic formula his decision would choose between.
In short
US President Donald Trump said he has a decision to make on the conflict with Iran, with RIA Novosti, RBC and Kommersant all reporting the statement. RBC reported Trump said the conflict could end either “the good way” or “the bad way”. Kommersant, which carried the fullest account, reported Trump said Iran's authorities are “effectively renouncing all plans for nuclear weapons” and that his choice is between a phased diplomatic scheme and military pressure.
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US President Donald Trump said he faces a decision on the conflict with Iran, according to RIA Novosti, RBC and Kommersant. RBC reported that Trump described two ways of ending the conflict, saying Washington could proceed toward Tehran either “the good way” or “the bad way”. RIA Novosti and RBC did not say what the options involve or when a decision would be taken. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kommersant reported that Trump made the remarks to journalists on the lawn by the White House, saying: “The only question is whether it will be the good way or the bad way. We can do it the good way, we can do it the bad way.” Kommersant also reported that the US president said Iran's authorities “are effectively renouncing all plans for nuclear weapons”. No other document in the set carries that statement. [ 3 ]
According to Kommersant, the United States and Israel began an operation against Iran on 28 February. In mid-June the Iranian and American sides signed a memorandum on ending hostilities, but later exchanged strikes again, the outlet reported. Citing Bloomberg, Kommersant reported that Tehran is preparing for new large-scale strikes by US armed forces. [ 3 ]
Kommersant described the formula under discussion: the United States was to lift the naval blockade, withdraw forces from border areas, partially unfreeze $12 billion of Iranian assets and suspend oil sanctions, while Tehran was to begin talks on its nuclear programme with a separate agreement expected within 60 days. In the diplomatic variant, that two-month period was to cover the nuclear programme as well as the removal of primary and secondary sanctions and Iran's reconstruction and economic development, the outlet reported. [ 3 ]
Kommersant reported that Trump's decision therefore comes down to a choice between returning to that phased diplomatic scheme and military pressure. In January 2026, the outlet reported, the US administration discussed a more limited operation that kept the possibility of escalation open, because it feared insufficient resources to defend against an Iranian retaliatory strike. [ 3 ]
Kommersant also reported an internal limit on continued fighting for the US administration: after two months the president must either obtain congressional approval or begin a troop withdrawal, which would have to be completed within a month. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
Kommersant reported that Tehran is preparing for new large-scale US strikes, so the pending decision bears on whether the conflict resumes at scale or returns to the 60-day diplomatic formula described in the document. The documents also point to a domestic constraint on Washington: after two months the US president must either obtain congressional approval or begin a withdrawal. The documents give no indication of when any decision would come.
Key facts
- US President Donald Trump said he faces a decision on Iran, according to RIA Novosti, RBC and Kommersant. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- RBC reported Trump said the conflict could end either “the good way” or “the bad way”. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kommersant reported Trump said Iran's authorities “are effectively renouncing all plans for nuclear weapons”. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported the United States and Israel began an operation against Iran on 28 February, and that the two sides signed a memorandum on ending hostilities in mid-June before exchanging strikes again. [ 3 ]
- Citing Bloomberg, Kommersant reported that Tehran is preparing for new large-scale strikes by US armed forces. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that under the discussed formula the United States was to lift the naval blockade, withdraw forces from border areas, partially unfreeze $12 billion in Iranian assets and suspend oil sanctions, while Tehran was to open nuclear talks with a separate agreement expected within 60 days. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that after two months the US president must either obtain congressional approval or begin a withdrawal to be completed within a month. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- What the two options for ending the conflict involve and when a decision will be taken. RIA Novosti and RBC reported the statement without detail, and Kommersant described the choice between a phased diplomatic scheme and military pressure without giving a date.
- Trump's statement that Iran's authorities are “effectively renouncing all plans for nuclear weapons”. Carried only by Kommersant among these documents; the other outlets do not mention it, and no Iranian response is reported.
- The Bloomberg report, cited by Kommersant, that Tehran is preparing for new large-scale US strikes. Single-source through Kommersant's citation of Bloomberg, with no details on timing or scale, and no confirmation that strikes will occur.
- The status of the mid-June memorandum on ending hostilities after the renewed exchange of strikes. Kommersant reports both the memorandum and later strikes without saying whether the memorandum remains in force.
- Whether Iran has commented on Trump's remarks. No document in the set carries an Iranian reaction.
- Whether the limited operation discussed in the US administration in January 2026 is still under consideration. Mentioned only by Kommersant as earlier internal discussion, without saying how it relates to the current decision.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports that Trump said he has a decision to make on Iran. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports that Trump described two variants for ending the conflict with Iran, “the good way” or “the bad way”. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant publishes the fuller account, including Trump's remarks to journalists at the White House, the 28 February start of the US-Israeli operation and the mid-June memorandum. [ 3 ]