Politics1 min read

Trump may not attack Iran as long as it doesn't provoke US, report says

By · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Allied leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, have actively lobbied the White House to halt further military strikes against Tehran. Despite these diplomatic overtures, Israeli officials are pushing for a fresh military campaign. The Pentagon continues to prepare for potential escalation, with options on the table that include targeting underground nuclear infrastructure. To support these contingency plans, a third U.S. aircraft carrier is en route to the region and could operate alongside two existing carrier strike groups.

Key points

  • Diplomatic pressure from key regional allies like Saudi Arabia and Turkey is actively dis…: Diplomatic pressure from key regional allies like Saudi Arabia and Turkey is actively discouraging new American military campaigns against Tehran.
  • Competing guidance from foreign partners has complicated Washington's strategy, with Isra…: Competing guidance from foreign partners has complicated Washington's strategy, with Israel strongly pushing for renewed strikes while neighboring states urge restraint.
  • Significant naval forces remain deployed in the Middle East to ensure immediate military…: Significant naval forces remain deployed in the Middle East to ensure immediate military retaliation if hostile actions or provocations resume.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

President Donald Trump has told senior advisers in recent days that he may hold off on attacking Iran if the US faces no new provocations from Tehran or the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Trump has alternated between threats of escalating the war with new strikes and winding down hostilities, and current and former officials say he does not appear to have made up his mind about how to resolve the unpopular conflict, which he launched in February with Israel.

But in meetings with his national security advisers and after a series of intelligence briefings, Trump said he was considering holding off on strikes, said the people, who, like others interviewed for this story, spoke on condition of anonymity.

He has also indicated sympathy for allies in the region who have asked him not to return to a full-fledged war.

"I could end it immediately, but at the request of the nations that I am looking to protect, we are doing it a little bit longer way, a bit more civilly," Trump told…

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