According to US officials, Trump prefers to negotiate with Iran in order to end its nuclear ambitions, rather than begin a new round of bombing.
US President Donald Trump has been struggling with two competing impulses over the last several days, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday: to punish Iran for continuing to pursue nuclear capabilities, and to avoid having the US drawn further into conflict through escalation
According to US officials, Trump prefers to negotiate with Iran in order to end its nuclear ambitions, rather than begin a new round of bombing. However, Iran's recent attack against US ships crossing through the Strait of Hormuz is forcing Trump to either ignore the provocation or order more bombing against Iran.
US officials told the WSJ that Trump was considering various military actions, including striking Iranian sites on the Pentagon's target list, and providing tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz with naval escorts.
Trump likely to attack Iran soon, officials say
Some, including US and foreign officials, said that Trump was likely to authorize a military response against Iran within the next few days.
“The advice he took at the beginning of the war - that bombing Iran would lead to quick and easy victory - has proven false," said Vali Nasr, a former US official and Iran expert now at Johns Hopkins University. "I suspect he is now skeptical that the US should keep bombing."
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said that Trump "has all the cards," and is keeping his options open. "Negotiators continue to work to ensure Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon," she added.
US Senator Lindsey Graham told the WSJ he supported Trump responding with a “big, strong, painful and short” attack on Iran, and that its actions were "inconsistent with a regime that wants a diplomatic solution."
“While we want stable relationships,” Graham said, “we will not be trifled with.”