Trump weighs delaying major Iran attack for now

2026-07-26

Why the attack was put off

The New York Times reported on the 25th that U.S. President Donald Trump plans to hold off for now on a large-scale attack on Iran that he had been considering. It said Trump discussed the issue with aides on the 24th and shared concerns that stocks of air defense missiles could run out and that the fighting could spread across the Middle East.

Priority on keeping talks alive

The risk of spilling over into a global energy crisis and worsening ties with allies in the Middle East Gulf region were also factors in the decision. According to the NYT, few of the aides who joined the talks backed the plan for a large-scale attack. On the 24th, Trump told reporters there was room to restart talks with Iran, saying, 'We are ready to move, but we are talking to them.'

Military limits and air strike plan

Many aides, including Trump's son-in-law Kushner, proposed keeping economic pressure in place while continuing negotiations with Iran, it said. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the top uniformed U.S. military officer, said a large-scale operation could be carried out, but warned that U.S. Central Command's stockpile of interceptor missiles would fall to dangerous levels. According to Axios, Trump was briefed by the U.S. military on an air strike plan for Iran on the afternoon of the 24th, but did not approve it and ordered that attacks not be carried out. Central Command had carried out attacks for 13 straight days through the 23rd.

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