President Donald Trump has indicated to senior advisers in recent days that he may refrain from launching attacks on Iran if the United States encounters no fresh provocations from Tehran or the Iran‑backed Houthis in Yemen, according to three individuals familiar with the discussions.
Trump has swung between issuing threats of further strikes to escalate the war and signaling a desire to wind down hostilities. Current and former officials say he remains undecided on how to resolve the unpopular conflict, which he initiated in February alongside Israel.
During meetings with his national security advisers and following several intelligence briefings, Trump said he was contemplating a pause on strikes, according to the individuals, who—like other sources interviewed for this article—spoke on the condition of anonymity.
He has also expressed sympathy for regional allies who have urged him not to resume a full‑scale 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 sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith on Thursday.
The conflict has driven up global fuel prices and become unpopular with American voters, who handed control of Congress to the Democrats in last week’s midterm elections. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted shortly before the November 3 vote, 55% of respondents said the war was not worth its cost, and Vice President JD Vance cited the issue as the reason Donald Trump’s Republicans lost control of Congress.
Trump’s private comments echo public statements downplaying the likelihood of a major resumption of warfare.
As Commander‑in‑Chief, President Trump is the architect and sole decision‑maker who holds all the cards and will always ensure that America’s interests are protected,” a White House official said in a statement. “The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing. Only President Trump knows what he will do, and when.”
The CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond to requests for comment.
Calls with Saudi Arabia and Turkey
During phone conversations over the past two weeks, Trump solicited the opinions of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. Both leaders urged him not to resume attacks on Iran, according to a senior U.S. official and another person familiar with the discussions. Trump did not indicate a definitive stance either way, they said.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump has spoken with Erdogan three times since October 28, according to Turkey’s presidency. An official readout from the November 7 call emphasized that tensions between Iran and the United States need to end.
U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that the U.S. naval blockade and economic sanctions are damaging the Iranian economy and would continue to pressure Tehran, two U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence said.
Building on its months‑long blockade of Iranian maritime traffic, the U.S. military is also working to prevent weapons and other sanctioned material from entering the country by land or via the Caspian Sea, according to a Reuters report from last week.
Military operations
Simultaneously, the U.S. military stands ready to escalate if necessary, according to three additional sources familiar with U.S. planning.
A third aircraft carrier is being deployed to the Middle East in the coming days to replace one of the two currently operating there, though all three carriers may remain if required, the sources indicated.
Trump could decide to bomb Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, according to one individual familiar with his discussions with Saudi and Turkish leaders. However, the U.S. has already targeted those sites, and it remains uncertain whether additional strikes would achieve success.
U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that renewed strikes would not materially alter Iran’s negotiating positions, two U.S. officials said.
Trump was also briefed on U.S. weapon stockpiles, some of which have dwindled to concerning levels, the two individuals familiar with the intelligence briefings said. A Reuters report in August revealed that the U.S. has employed “virtually all” of its long‑range precision munitions, and another source briefed on the matter said they have not been replenished.
“The United States Military has sufficient munitions and ammunition to meet all of the Commander‑in‑Chief’s strategic goals and more,” the White House official said.
Israeli pressure
Israeli officials continue to lobby the administration for another military campaign, according to a U.S. official.
Trump indicated this week that the United States has already realized its objectives from negotiations but did not specify whether he would resume strikes.
“We don’t need a deal with Iran,” Trump said in a social media post on Thursday. “We’ve got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we’ve got their Strait!”
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