Trump may hold off on new Iran strikes, sources say

US President Donald Trump has told senior advisers he may refrain from launching fresh attacks on Iran if Tehran or Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen do not carry out new provocations, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Trump has alternated between threatening further military action and signalling a willingness to wind down the conflict, which the United States and Israel launched in February. Current and former officials say he has yet to settle on a clear course to end the war.

According to three people familiar with the matter, Trump discussed holding off on further strikes during meetings with national security advisers and after receiving intelligence briefings in recent days.

He has also shown sympathy towards regional allies who have urged Washington not to return to 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 pushed up global fuel prices and proved unpopular among US voters. Republicans lost control of Congress to the Democrats in last week's midterm elections.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted shortly before the November 3 elections found that 55 per cent of Americans believed the war was not worth its cost. Vice President JD Vance also cited the conflict as a reason for the Republicans' electoral setback.

A White House official said Trump remained the sole decision-maker on military action and would prioritise US interests.

The official said the United States was in a strong position, citing its control of the Strait of Hormuz and the deteriorating Iranian economy.

US intelligence agencies have assessed that the naval blockade and economic sanctions are hurting Iran's economy and would continue to put pressure on Tehran, two US officials briefed on the assessments said.

The US military is also seeking to prevent weapons and other sanctioned materials from entering Iran by land or through the Caspian Sea, building on a months-long blockade of Iranian maritime traffic.

Despite the possibility of holding off on attacks, the US military remains prepared to escalate if necessary, according to three 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. However, all three could remain in the area if required, the sources said.

Trump could also consider striking Iran's underground nuclear facilities again, according to one person familiar with his discussions with Saudi and Turkish leaders. The United States has already attacked those facilities, however, and it remains unclear whether further strikes would achieve their objectives.

US intelligence agencies have assessed that renewed attacks would not significantly change Iran's demands in negotiations, two US officials said.

Trump has also received briefings on US weapons stockpiles, some of which have fallen to concerning levels, according to two people familiar with the intelligence briefings.

The United States used virtually all of its long-range precision munitions, according to an August report, and another person briefed on the matter said the stockpiles had not been replenished.

The White House official disputed concerns about the military's readiness, saying the armed forces had sufficient ammunition and munitions to meet the president's strategic objectives.

Israeli officials have continued urging the Trump administration to launch another military campaign against Iran, a US official said.

Trump indicated this week that the United States had already achieved what it could through negotiations, although he did not say whether military strikes would resume.

“We don’t need a deal with Iran,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Thursday, adding that Washington had Iran's money and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have urged Trump not to resume military strikes, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Trump's latest comments suggest that further attacks are not inevitable, but the administration has not ruled out military action if the situation changes.

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