President Donald Trump was on the verge of authorizing a U.S. airstrike against Iran this week but ultimately backed down after his staff, allies, and intelligence agencies highlighted the risks of escalation and pointed out that the strike would not lead to regime change, the Washington Post reported recently.

As Iran violently suppressed nationwide protests, President Trump considered military options, prompting the Department of Defense to redeploy naval and air assets and warn regional bases of potential retaliation.

As President Trump publicly supported Iranian protesters and hinted at U.S. support, expectations grew that an attack was imminent, even without official orders.

However, the turning point that caused Trump to change his mind was reportedly when he received confirmation, through special envoy Steve Witekoff, that Iran had canceled its planned mass execution of prisoners (over 800 people).

President Trump subsequently decided to temporarily halt the attack, telling his staff that the costs of the attack, including threats to U.S. troops, regional instability, and economic repercussions, outweighed the benefits, senior White House officials told the Washington Post.

The Washington Post reported that key U.S. allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Israel, had warned that Iranian retaliation could escalate into a larger conflict and had privately urged restraint.

Defense Department officials also reportedly warned that U.S. forces in the region were dispersed, limiting Washington's ability to absorb or deter a large-scale counterattack.

While the threat of direct U.S. airstrikes has diminished, President Trump is keeping military options open as additional forces move into the region.

There are no reports of the carrier strike group Abraham Lincoln, which is reportedly en route to the Middle East, being ordered to turn back.

Administration officials stated that the situation reflected a pragmatic calculation rather than a policy change. Iran is under sustained diplomatic and economic pressure amid ongoing instability, officials added.

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Reporter, U.S. NNP / Special Contribution NNP info@newsandpost.com