Trump weighs pausing Iran strikes as allies press to avoid wider war
Why it matters: Saudi and Turkish leaders urged restraint as the conflict lifts fuel prices and reshapes Trump's post-midterm foreign policy.
President Donald Trump has told senior advisers he may hold off on new attacks on Iran unless Tehran or the Iran-backed Houthis mount fresh provocations, according to people familiar with the discussions. The shift follows weeks of mixed public signals, with Trump alternately describing the war as close to over and warning the U.S. military remains ready to act. Trump also consulted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both of whom urged him not to resume strikes. The war, launched in February with Israel, has pushed up global fuel prices and became a political liability after Republicans lost control of Congress in last week's midterms.