By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is considering withholding further military strikes against Iran unless Tehran or the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen provokes the United States, according to three people familiar with recent discussions inside the administration.
Trump expressed the position during meetings with national security advisers and after receiving intelligence briefings, suggesting that Washington could avoid another major military offensive while continuing to pressure Iran through sanctions and restrictions on maritime commerce.
According to a Nov. 14 report by the New York Post, the president has not made a final decision about how to conclude the conflict, which began with joint U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran on Feb. 28.
The president’s private discussions follow several public statements indicating that he may avoid restarting large-scale attacks, although he has continued warning that American forces are prepared to respond to threats against U.S. interests.
In an interview Thursday with sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, Trump said regional governments had encouraged him to pursue a more gradual approach.
“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 said.
The administration has maintained that the president retains full authority to determine whether additional military action is necessary.
“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.”
According to Reuters, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have urged Trump not to resume major attacks against Iran.
The president consulted both leaders during telephone conversations over the past two weeks, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
Trump reportedly told the Saudi crown prince during an Oct. 31 conversation that he was considering additional strikes following the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections. Mohammed bin Salman urged him to refrain, arguing that existing economic sanctions were already weakening Iran.
Trump did not commit to either leader that he would rule out additional military action.
U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that sanctions and restrictions affecting the Strait of Hormuz have placed significant pressure on Iran’s economy. Officials also believe another round of airstrikes may be unlikely to change Tehran’s position in negotiations.
Diplomatic discussions involving regional intermediaries have made limited progress toward securing an agreement that would formally end hostilities.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued advocating additional military action against Iranian facilities, including infrastructure associated with the country’s nuclear and defense programs.
American military planners have retained options for attacking underground nuclear facilities, although the effectiveness of further strikes against hardened targets remains uncertain.
The Pentagon is also maintaining substantial forces in the region, with a third aircraft carrier being deployed to the Middle East. Military officials have acknowledged concerns about inventories of some long-range precision-guided weapons following months of operations.
The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major international route for oil and natural gas shipments, contributing to higher global energy prices.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reported incidents involving commercial vessels striking sea mines in the strait. Tehran has warned that any renewed U.S. or Israeli attack would trigger a response.
The administration’s consideration of a pause in additional strikes follows domestic political pressure over the continuing conflict.
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, creating additional obstacles for the administration as lawmakers examine military expenditures and the continuation of operations against Iran.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted before the elections found that 55% of Americans believed the war was not worth its costs. Vice President JD Vance subsequently cited the conflict as a factor in Republicans’ congressional losses.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained that economic pressure is weakening Iran and that Washington remains willing to consider a diplomatic agreement that meets American requirements.
However, the administration has not announced a ceasefire agreement or a timetable for ending military operations.
Trump’s reported willingness to withhold additional strikes also comes ahead of planned meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China, where the Iran conflict is expected to be among the international security issues discussed.
Both Russia and China maintain diplomatic and economic relationships with Tehran, although neither has announced an agreement capable of resolving the conflict.
For now, the president has reportedly indicated that avoiding new provocations from Iran or the Houthis could allow Washington to refrain from another round of attacks.
The White House has not publicly committed to suspending military operations, and American forces remain positioned to respond if the president orders additional strikes.
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