Trump Calls Off Iran Strikes: Inside the Decision

US President Donald Trump called off strikes on Iran after deciding that the potential benefit wasn't worth the consequences, the Washington Post reported on Saturday. On Wednesday, a US strike on Iran seemed imminent. Widespread reports stated allies had been alerted and that ships and planes were on the move. However, within the White House, Trump was receiving conflicting advice. A US official and a person close to the White House said that Vice President JD Vance supported strikes on Iran, the Washington Post claimed, with his reasoning being that Trump had drawn a red line in his warning Iran not to kill protesters, and now had an obligation to enforce it. Trump had also been shown videos by CIA Director John Ratcliffe of regime violence against Iranian protesters, as well as presentations by the Defense Department and US intelligence agencies laying out the military options available to the US. Other Trump advisers, however, were against the strikes, including US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, the report said. Witkoff was reportedly in touch with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi via text, and "defused the situation" by informing Trump that the Iranian government had canceled the planned executions of 800 people. Following his intervention, Trump decided against striking Iran, telling reporters that he'd heard that the killings would stop and that he "greatly respect[ed] the fact that they canceled." Middle East countries asked Trump not to strike Iran Other countries in the Middle East also attempted to intervene to avoid further breakdown of the regional stability. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and other Arab allies all reportedly urged Trump to consider diplomatic options. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Trump by phone about the matter, the report noted, concerned that Iran might retaliate if the US did strike it. Israel was also unprepared for the US to strike Iran at the time. The Jerusalem Post, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump on Wednesday, speaking with him twice and asking him not to strike, as Israel was not fully prepared to defend itself. This was partially due to the lack of US military assets, the report claimed, which Israel has been relying on increasingly over the last two years.