Trump may pause Iran strikes barring new provocations

President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed uncertainty about continuing US attacks on Iran, barring any new provocations, according to sources familiar with the situation. Trump has shown willingness to both escalate the conflict with fresh strikes and pursue a resolution, but his decisions appear hazy. During recent meetings with national security advisers and intelligence briefings, he considered halting attacks, stating he might "do it a little bit longer, a bit more civilly," as he sought to appease allies in the region who had requested a halt to renewed hostilities.

This stance followed Trump's public acknowledgment of the war's negative impact on global fuel prices and its unpopularity with US voters, who had recently elected Democrats to Congress. Trump's private comments echo his earlier public statements downplaying the likelihood of a full-scale war resuming. The US military is prepared to escalate if necessary, with a third aircraft carrier set to join the region soon.

Trump has held phone calls with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, both of whom urged him to refrain from resuming attacks, suggesting economic sanctions were effective. However, Trump had previously indicated plans to strike after the elections, but he maintained no firm stance on the matter.

US intelligence agencies have assessed that the ongoing naval blockade and sanctions are negatively impacting Iran's economy, potentially pressuring Tehran further. The US military is also working to prevent sanctioned material from entering Iran by land or through the Caspian Sea. While the White House emphasized that the United States is in a strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and a collapsing Iranian economy, Israeli officials have lobbied for additional military action, to which Trump alluded by stating, "We don’t need a deal with Iran."