NYT: Trump Holds Off on Ordering Major Escalation in Iran War

by | Jul 26, 2026

NYT: Trump Holds Off on Ordering Major Escalation in Iran War

by | Jul 26, 2026

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US officials said that President Donald Trump decided to hold off on ordering an escalation in the war against Iran. 

Last week, The New York Post and Axios reported that President Donald Trump was closing in on a decision to authorize a major attack on Iran. It is unclear what the operation would involve, with some speculation it would include strikes on Pickaxe Mountain and sending US troops into Iran to capture Tehran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. 

On Friday, Trump met with top advisers about ordering new operations against Iran. Top military officials, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Trump that while the military was capable of conducting the operations, doing so would dangerously thin the US stockpile of advanced interceptors. 

Through the first 39 days of the war, the US used about half of its stockpiles of key munitions, including JASSM, Tomahawk, SM-3, SM-6, Patriot, and THAAD missiles. The inventory will take years to replenish. 

The truce between the US and Iran broke down two weeks ago, leading to several rounds of escalating attacks. President Trump has claimed that the attacks are meant to drive the Iranians back to the negotiating table. 

However, officials speaking with The New York Times said that members of Trump’s inner circle do not believe the strategy will work, leading nearly all of the President’s top advisers to counsel him against further escalation. 

US Central Command did not report any new strikes against Iran on Saturday night.

Kyle Anzalone

Kyle Anzalone

Kyle Anzalone is news editor of the Libertarian Institute, opinion editor of Antiwar.com and co-host of Conflicts of Interest with Will Porter and Connor Freeman.

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