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. The war, launched by the US and Israel in February, has driven up global fuel prices and become a political liability for Trump's administration. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted shortly before the November 3 midterm elections found that 55% of Americans believed the war was not worth its cost. The Republicans subsequently lost control of Congress to the Democrats. A White House official said Trump remained the sole decision-maker on military action and that the US was in a strong position, citing its control of the Strait of Hormuz and what it described as a collapsing Iranian economy.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey urge restraint
Trump has sought the views of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan in telephone conversations over the past two weeks. Both leaders advised him against restarting attacks on Iran, according to people familiar with the discussions. Trump did not commit to either course of action, the report said. During a conversation with bin Salman on October 31, Trump reportedly said he was planning to attack Iran after the US elections. The Saudi crown prince urged him to reconsider, arguing that economic sanctions were already putting pressure on Tehran. Erdogan has also spoken with Trump three times since October 28. A Turkish presidential statement following their November 7 conversation emphasised the need to resolve tensions between Washington and Tehran. US intelligence assessments suggest that the naval blockade and economic sanctions are damaging Iran's economy and could continue to exert pressure on the country, according to US officials cited by Reuters. The US military has also been working to restrict the movement of weapons and other sanctioned goods into Iran by land and through the Caspian Sea, extending a blockade that has already targeted Iranian maritime traffic.
US military keeps options open
Despite the diplomatic push to avoid renewed fighting, the US military is prepared to escalate if Trump orders it to do so, according to people familiar with military planning. A third aircraft carrier is expected to move into the Middle East in the coming days to replace one of the two currently operating in the region. All three could remain deployed if required, the sources said. One option discussed by Trump is another strike on Iran's underground nuclear facilities. However, the US has already attacked those sites, and the effectiveness of a further bombing campaign remains uncertain.
US intelligence assessments have also indicated that renewed strikes are unlikely to significantly alter Iran's negotiating demands, two US officials told Reuters. While regional partners are urging restraint, Israeli officials have continued to lobby the Trump administration for another military campaign against Iran, according to a US official cited in the report. Trump has suggested that Washington may have exhausted the possibilities of negotiations with Tehran, but has not announced whether he intends to resume military operations.
