The administration is balancing warnings from Saudi Arabia and Turkey against sustained Israeli pressure to restart air campaigns against Iranian targets. Despite discussions about pausing strikes, the Pentagon is moving a third aircraft carrier into the region to maintain immediate strike readiness. American intelligence assessments caution that targeting underground nuclear facilities may ultimately yield uncertain results without shifting Tehran's stance.
Key points
Regional allies argue existing economic blockades are sufficient to pressure Iran without…: Regional allies argue existing economic blockades are sufficient to pressure Iran without risking wider warfare.
Military leaders have prepared options targeting underground nuclear sites despite intell…: Military leaders have prepared options targeting underground nuclear sites despite intelligence doubts regarding their overall effectiveness.
Diplomatic restraint remains precarious as Israeli officials continue lobbying the admini…: Diplomatic restraint remains precarious as Israeli officials continue lobbying the administration for another offensive campaign.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
US president Donald Trump is considering holding back from renewed military strikes against Iran, provided Tehran and its regional allies do not trigger further escalation, according to a Reuters report citing people familiar with his discussions with senior advisers.
Trump has discussed the possibility of avoiding fresh attacks during national security meetings and intelligence briefings in recent days, the report said. His position, however, remains uncertain, with the president having alternated between threatening a wider military campaign and signalling that he wants to bring the conflict to an end.
The shift comes as US allies in the region press Washington to avoid returning to full-scale hostilities. Trump has also acknowledged their concerns, saying in an interview with sports broadcaster Stephen A Smith on Thursday that he could end the conflict immediately but was extending the process at the request of countries he wanted to protect.
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The high-stakes trilateral summit scheduled alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Shenzhen brings together the world's most powerful leaders amid severe global instability. With potential agenda items covering nuclear arsenals, artificial intelligence, and active conflicts, excluded nations fear the trio could unilaterally reshape international borders and global security architectures. This dynamic has sparked sharp pushback from vulnerable states that risk being sidelined during major geopolit…
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