Trump May Hold Off Iran Attacks Unless Tehran or Houthis Provoke, Sources Say

President Donald Trump may hold off Iran attacks if the United States faces no new provocations from Tehran or the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, according to three people familiar with the matter. Trump has told senior advisers in recent days that he is considering holding off on new strikes, a major shift in a war he launched with Israel in February that has rattled the Middle East and pushed global fuel prices higher.

Trump May Hold Off Iran Attacks: What the Report Says

The report, first published by Reuters on Saturday, says Trump raised the possibility in meetings with his national security advisers and after intelligence briefings. The people familiar with the discussions spoke on condition of anonymity, and officials stressed that Trump has not made a final decision. He has alternated for months between threatening new strikes and talking about winding the war down, and officials say he does not appear to have made up his mind.

Trump's private comments match his recent public remarks playing down the chance of major fighting resuming. Speaking to sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith on Thursday, Trump said: 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. In a social media post the same day, he wrote: We don't need a deal with Iran. We've got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we've got their Strait!

Why Saudi Arabia and Turkiye Are Urging Restraint

Two of America's closest partners in the region have been pressing Trump not to resume the war. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have both urged restraint in phone calls over the past two weeks, arguing that economic sanctions are working and renewed strikes would achieve little. Trump has spoken with Erdogan three times since October 28, and the readout from their November 7 call stressed that tensions between Iran and the US need to end.

The Saudi crown prince made his case directly on October 31, when Trump told him he planned to attack Iran after the US midterm elections. Bin Salman pleaded for him to hold off, arguing that sanctions were working, according to two people familiar with that conversation. US intelligence agencies have reached a similar conclusion: the naval blockade and sanctions are hurting Iran's economy, while renewed strikes would not significantly shift Tehran's demands in negotiations.

The Pentagon Stays Ready to Strike Iran

Even as Trump weighs a pause, the US military remains positioned to escalate. A third aircraft carrier is moving into the Middle East in the coming days to replace one of the two currently operating there, though all three could stay if needed, according to people familiar with US planning. Trump could also opt to bomb Iran's underground nuclear facilities again, though the US has already struck those sites and it is unclear whether further strikes would succeed.

There is also a practical limit on a new campaign. Trump was briefed on US weapon stockpiles, some of which have drawn down to worrying levels. Reuters reported in August that the US had used virtually all of its long-range precision munitions, and they have not been replenished. The White House pushed back, saying the military has enough munitions to serve all of the commander's strategic goals and beyond. Trump himself made clear on Thursday that he would strike Iran without hesitation if Tehran threatened American allies or vessels.

Israel Keeps Pushing for Another Campaign

Not everyone in Washington's orbit wants a pause. Israeli officials have continued to lobby the administration for another military campaign, according to a US official. Separately, Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that Mossad had warned the CIA of an alleged Iranian drone plot targeting President Trump. That claim has not been independently confirmed.

What the Iran War Costs, and Why Voters Turned

The war has proved expensive at home and abroad. It has pushed global fuel prices higher and has become deeply unpopular with US voters, who handed control of Congress to the Democrats in last week's midterm elections. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll taken shortly before the November 3 elections, 55 percent of Americans said the war was not worth the cost, and Vice President JD Vance cited it as the reason Trump's Republicans lost Congress. The fighting has also disrupted supply chains through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has restricted navigation since February.

What Happens Next in the Iran Standoff

1. Watch for any new provocation from Tehran or the Houthis, the trigger Trump named for resuming strikes.
2. Watch the third US aircraft carrier arriving in the Middle East, and whether all three carriers stay.
3. Watch the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 19, where Trump is due to meet Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
4. Watch whether the UN appeal for fertiliser vessels through the Strait of Hormuz gets a response.
5. Watch Trump's next public remarks, since the White House says only the president knows what he will do, and when.