The Washington Post: Why did Trump stop the attack on Iran
The Washington Post has revealed the secrets behind US President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to cancel a devastating military strike on Iran.
As the world awaited the opening whistle of a large-scale air attack, dramatic last-minute changes took place that brought planes back to their runways.
Late on Wednesday, there was a firm belief in political circles that Trump was about to sign the order for the attack, especially after Operation Delta Force in Venezuela.
These expectations were reinforced by the entry of the USS. Roosevelt into Gulf waters and the partial evacuation of the Udeid base in Qatar in anticipation of Iranian reactions.
Despite Trump’s public promises to Iranian demonstrators that help is on the way, the final decision came as a disappointment to his security advisers who prepared for a long night of fighting.
The Washington Post points out that the milestone moment was the intelligence information that reached Trump that Tehran had canceled the execution of 800 detainees.
This shift, which coincided with a direct text message from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to US envoy Steve Witkoff, gave Trump the political justification to wait and monitor the situation.
The Oval Office witnessed a sharp division of opinion between the administration’s hawks and the advocates of calm: J.D. Vance and John Ratcliffe supported the strike, with Vance saying Trump’s “red lines” credibility was at stake, while Ratcliffe showed painful videos of cracking down on protesters to influence the president’s emotions.
Susie Wiles and Steve Witkoff: Advised caution, conveying Arab allies’ fears that the region would slide into uncontrolled chaos.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine: He concluded that the strategic fruits of the offensive don’t match the magnitude of the economic and military risks it entails.
The pressure wasn’t limited to the US at home, but regional allies played a crucial role:
Israeli concern: In a striking surprise, Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump twice and asked him to not strike at the moment, given the lack of interceptor missile stockpiles and Israel’s lack of full readiness to repel a comprehensive Iranian response in the absence of sufficient US aircraft carriers in the region.
Arab mediation: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Oman led an intense diplomatic movement.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a call with Trump in which he stressed that the repercussions of military action would be catastrophic for energy security and the regional economy.
Observers believe that the strike was not canceled but was postponed. As the USS Abraham Lincoln heads toward the Middle East (expected to arrive in two weeks), Trump may find himself facing a new window of military action as reinforcements are completed and Israel’s defenses become more fortified.
While Iran’s opponents see this decline as a betrayal of their hopes, Trump is betting on a cost-benefit analysis, preferring precision surgeries to open wars that could tarnish his presidential record before the election or during his critical period.
