The standoff between the US and Iran is entering a new critical phase, with a potential resolution this week. US President Donald Trump stated last weekend that he would make a "simple or difficult" decision on Iran, hinting that military action might resume after the midterm elections if a satisfactory agreement is not reached. Meanwhile, according to The Wall Street Journal, the US is deploying the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the USS Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group to the Middle East. By late October, three carrier strike groups are expected to be deployed, a concentration of forces not seen since the initial phase of the 2003 Iraq War. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi warned on October 4 that if the enemy resorts to military action again, Iran will respond with a "more devastating" counterattack than before, but also stated a willingness to seek a solution through diplomatic channels. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran's Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator, said that the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen unless the US met seven conditions, including lifting the naval blockade and sanctions. Brent crude oil prices currently remain around $103.