Trump weighs pausing Iran strikes absent new attacks by Tehran
Why it matters: A pause could cool a war that has lifted fuel prices and hurt Republicans after voters soured on the conflict.
President Donald Trump has told senior advisers he may hold off on new US attacks on Iran if Tehran or the Iran-backed Houthis do not launch fresh provocations, signaling possible restraint after months of mixed threats and diplomacy. The shift follows intelligence briefings and appeals from regional partners, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who urged him not to resume strikes. Trump has also publicly suggested the United States can keep pressure on Iran through a naval blockade and sanctions. The conflict, launched in February with Israel, has pushed up global fuel prices and become politically costly at home after Democrats won control of Congress in the midterm elections.