Khaberni - Axios reported from sources Thursday evening that US President Donald Trump postponed making a decision on launching a military strike against Iran, during a time when consultations are taking place within the White House and with U.S. allies regarding the timing of any potential operation, and whether it would actually destabilize the Iranian regime, according to five American, Israeli, and Arab sources.
According to the sources, the military option is still very much on the table, but the decision to pause revealed a state of uncertainty within the American administration and amongst the allies about the risks of launching a strike that could punish Iran but might also lead to widespread retaliatory responses.
While Trump considers diplomatic options, the U.S. military has begun evacuating forces from bases in the Middle East and sending additional reinforcements to the region, including the American aircraft carrier "Abraham Lincoln" and its combat group.
Although a strike does not seem imminent currently, an informed American source told Axios, "Everyone knows that the president keeps his finger on the button."
In this context, Israeli officials expressed reservations in the past 48 hours about the timing and effectiveness of any strike.
According to American and Israeli sources, during a phone call on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Trump to delay to allow more time for Israel to prepare for possible Iranian retaliation. The New York Times was the first to report this request.
An Israeli source mentioned that the current American plan involves striking targets related to the Iranian security forces, but Israel does not see it as strong or effective enough to cause a real shakeup in the regime's structure.
