According to Reuters, citing three sources familiar with the matter, U.S. President Donald Trump has told senior advisers in recent days that he is considering not resuming large-scale attacks on Iran unless Tehran or its Houthi proxies in Yemen engage in new provocations. Washington is thus effectively tying further military activity to the behavior of the Iranian side: in the absence of escalation by Iran and its allies, new strikes may not follow. However, the military scenario, according to the report, remains on the agenda.
Contradictory Public Signals
Current and former U.S. officials note that Trump has not yet decided how to end the conflict that the U.S. began alongside Israel in February. His public statements in this context appear contradictory: in some speeches, the president threatens new strikes, while in others he speaks of scaling back the military campaign. The war remains unpopular domestically, and Washington's Middle East allies are reportedly asking the American leader not to return to full-scale hostilities.
The Ally Factor and White House Stance
Trump acknowledged that he is considering the position of his partners. In a recent interview with sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, he stated: "I could have ended this immediately, but at the request of the countries I am trying to protect, we are doing it a little longer, a little more civilly." The White House emphasized that the final decision on further actions remains with the president, adding that the U.S. holds strong positions, controls the Strait of Hormuz, and is monitoring the deteriorating economic situation in Iran. "Only President Trump knows what he will do and when," an administration spokesperson noted.
Military Logistics and Strike Limits
According to three other Reuters sources, a third aircraft carrier is scheduled to arrive in the Middle East region in the coming days. Initially, it was meant to replace one of the two ships already in the area, but if necessary, all three could remain there. Possible targets for new strikes include Iran's underground nuclear facilities; however, the U.S. has already attacked these sites, so the effectiveness of repeat strikes remains in question. According to U.S. intelligence estimates, new attacks are unlikely to significantly change Tehran's negotiating position. Furthermore, Trump has been briefed on the state of ammunition stockpiles: some munitions have reached alarming levels.
Timeline of the Shift in Course
In recent days, Washington's stance toward Iran has fluctuated between threats of new strikes and attempts to avoid the resumption of full-scale war. On November 9, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi effectively issued an ultimatum to the U.S., giving it two days to stop hostilities on all fronts and threatening a harsh response. By November 10, Trump called the resumption of hostilities unlikely, although he assured that U.S. troops are prepared for escalation. The next day, it became known that Washington was leaning toward a third scenario—increasing economic pressure on Tehran instead of new strikes or a peace deal. This approach involves further limiting Iran's ability to fund military forces and rearm.
