US Weighs Fresh Military Strikes on Iran While UN Nuclear Talks Collapse

The Trump administration has intensified military and diplomatic pressure on Iran over the last 24 hours. Reports from CBS News and Axios indicate that U.S. military and intelligence officials have been placed on high alert through the Memorial Day weekend as the White House weighs fresh strike options. While no final decision has been made, the Pentagon remains prepared to execute orders from President Trump, signaling a potential shift back toward kinetic action. Simultaneously, Secretary of State Marco Rubio alerted NATO allies during a meeting in Sweden to prepare for maritime disruptions. Rubio warned that Iran may attempt to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz or impose illegal tolls on international shipping, stating that "Plan B" contingencies are necessary for the world's most critical energy chokepoint. This comes as a major UN conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ended in failure on May 22, with 191 parties unable to reach a consensus due to the deepening rift between Washington and Tehran. Despite the escalatory rhetoric, a narrow diplomatic track remains active. Qatari mediators have been dispatched to Tehran in an attempt to stabilize a fragile ceasefire. While Rubio noted 'a little bit of movement' in indirect talks, domestic hardliners in Iran are reportedly resisting any significant concessions, leaving the prospect of a comprehensive peace deal increasingly remote.