Trump Is Considering Three Scenarios for Ending the War with Iran – NYT
U.S. President Donald Trump is considering three possible scenarios for the conflict with Iran, seeking to bring the military confrontation to an end as quickly as possible. The options include an escalation of hostilities, increased economic pressure on Tehran, or a declaration of U.S. victory followed by a withdrawal from the conflict.
This was reported by The New York Times, citing sources in the U.S. administration. According to the publication, in recent weeks Trump has become increasingly aware that the war is beginning to define his presidency. Despite the United States’ military superiority, Washington has failed to achieve the operation’s key objectives in the five months since the conflict began, while dissatisfaction with the war is growing both domestically and abroad.
According to the NYT’s sources, the president is discussing three main options for further action with Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hagsett, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kane, and Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
At the same time, as the publication notes, each of the possible scenarios carries significant risks. Administration officials doubt that large-scale strikes on Iranian military targets will force Tehran to return to the negotiating table.
Tightening sanctions may also prove ineffective, according to officials, since Iran has been subject to severe economic restrictions for many years, and any additional impact would only become apparent over time.
The third option—declaring victory and ending the operation—also has its drawbacks. According to the NYT, in such a scenario, Iran would retain its nuclear materials and the ability to influence shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which would leave the root causes of the conflict unresolved and could create new risks for global energy markets.
The publication notes that Trump’s final decision could prove decisive both for his political legacy and for the future role of the U.S. in the Middle East.
Source: The New York Times.
As a reminder, the U.S. postponed a planned large-scale military operation against Iran due to a shortage of interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense systems.
The United Kingdom has commented on Iran’s threats.
Oil prices fell by more than 6% following a lull in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran — Reuters
