<p>President Trump has paused, for the time being, plans to sharply escalate the American military campaign against Iran, citing concern that intensified fighting could deplete the Pentagon’s dwindling stockpile of Patriot antimissile interceptors and other air defense munitions in the Middle East.</p><p>Officials say the risk of restoring major combat operations includes potential widening of the conflict, alienation of Gulf allies, global economic strain, and ongoing energy and refugee crises. The latest discussions followed a Friday meeting with top advisers and cabinet members, described by two people familiar with the discussions.</p><p>The private deliberations focused on the shrinking stockpiles of Patriot interceptors and other air defenses, with officials noting the sensitivity of operational planning. Three U.S. soldiers in Jordan were killed last Friday when a ballistic missile penetrated American defenses amid a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones, a senior U.S. official said.</p><p>Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, privately cautioned that resuming major combat operations against Iran was feasible but would dangerously deplete interceptors for Central Command. A spokesman for General Caine declined to comment on the advice given to the president.</p><p>White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said the president has consistently preferred a diplomatic solution but retains all options if Iran continues terrorist activities in the Strait of Hormuz or against allies, adding that Iran could pursue a negotiated deal after enduring sanctions and strikes, or face consequences otherwise.</p><p>The administration has been weighing how to proceed in its ongoing conflict with Iran, including how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as oil prices rise amid renewed hostilities. Diplomacy has collapsed, and recent U.S. attacks have not deterred Iran militarily.</p><p>Several officials said they doubted escalating would be wise, arguing it could rally Iran and distract from diplomatic efforts, though some warned of a potential tipping point if actions continued. There was concern that strikes might strengthen internal Iranian cohesion and detract from negotiations.</p><p>Fighting appeared to ease temporarily on Saturday after two weeks of tension, though clashes continued between Saudi-backed forces and Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. U.S. forces did not announce overnight strikes on Saturday.</p><p>Before Friday’s meeting, Trump signaled readiness for heavier assaults but left room for a diplomatic path. He said, “We’re locked and loaded… but we’re talking to them, so maybe there will be, maybe there won’t be a tipping point.”</p><p>The discussion came as a fragile cease-fire and a stalled memorandum intended to bring the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table for denuclearization collapsed. Some Pentagon officials and military commanders said Trump seemed inclined to approve a phased bombing campaign targeting coastal radars, anti-ship missiles, and small Iranian attack boats, among other targets tied to attacks on commercial ships through the Strait.</p><p>The Pentagon has moved more forces and materiel to the region to prepare for escalation. It has also targeted railway bridges and energy facilities near the Strait as potential pressure points, along with Iran’s nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain, under consideration.</p><p>Trump indicated in an Axios interview that he was considering a massive attack, saying he was close to a decision and that preparations were in place. By late Friday, he appeared to set aside those larger plans, in part due to concerns about dwindling air-defense munitions for troops in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE, which have faced Iranian fire in recent weeks.</p><p>Earlier reports indicated the Pentagon had used more than 1,200 Patriot missiles, with inventories now increasingly constrained. Some advisers, including Jared Kushner, have advocated a longer, negotiated approach with sustained economic pressure rather than a rapid broad escalation.</p><p>The status of any talks with Iran remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether internal divisions within Iran’s government could affect any potential deal.</p><p>The U.S. recently renewed a naval blockade targeting Iranian port activity, with limited initial impact on oil flows. Iran resumed some deliveries, primarily to China, and it will take time to observe the broader effect on Iran’s oil revenues. Treasury officials noted a significant drop in China’s crude purchases, impacting Iran’s export income. Sanctions were imposed on entities and individuals connected to an Iranian financier’s network.</p>
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