U.S. President Donald Trump considers holding off on further Iran strikes amid political pressure

U.S. President Donald Trump has told senior advisers he may hold off on attacking Iran if the U.S. faces no new provocations from Tehran or the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Mr. Trump launched the conflict in February alongside Israel, but he has alternated between threatening new strikes and winding down hostilities. In recent meetings, he said he was considering holding off on further attacks after reviewing intelligence briefings.

Reactions And Politics

Mr. Trump has shown sympathy for allies who asked him to avoid a full-fledged war. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan both urged him in recent phone calls not to resume attacks. Meanwhile, the war has pushed up global fuel prices and proved unpopular with American voters. In last week's midterm elections, voters handed control of Congress to the Democrats. A poll taken shortly before the November 3 elections showed that 55% of Americans felt the war was not worth the cost.

Military Posture

While considering a pause, the U.S. military is also preparing to escalate if necessary. A third aircraft carrier is moving into West Asia to replace one of two currently operating in the region. U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that naval blockades and economic sanctions are hurting the Iranian economy. However, some U.S. weapon stockpiles have drawn down to worrying levels, though a White House official stated the military has enough ammo to serve all strategic goals.

Context

International conflicts often create heavy political and economic pressures for leaders at home, especially when fuel prices rise and voters register their discontent at the ballot box. Intelligence agencies and foreign allies frequently play a major role in shaping military strategy during prolonged overseas campaigns.