President Donald Trump is weighing whether to keep US forces from launching another round of attacks against Iran, provided Tehran and its Houthi partners in Yemen avoid actions that could trigger a new confrontation, according to people familiar with internal administration discussions.

The president has not settled on how he intends to bring the conflict to a conclusion. His public statements have alternated between warnings of additional military action and suggestions that the fighting could wind down. The war, which began with US and Israeli operations in February, has increasingly become a political and economic liability for the administration.

People familiar with recent White House deliberations say Trump has discussed maintaining the current pause rather than immediately ordering another offensive. His thinking appears to have been influenced partly by regional governments concerned that renewed fighting could destabilize the Middle East further.

Trump acknowledged that some of America’s partners have asked him to exercise restraint.

“I could end it immediately, but ​at the request of the nations that I am looking to protect, we are doing it a little bit longer way, a bit more civilly,” Trump told sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith ​on Thursday.

The domestic political consequences of the war have also become increasingly difficult for Trump to ignore. Rising energy costs and public opposition have contributed to dissatisfaction with the conflict. In last week’s midterm elections, Democrats took control of Congress. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted ahead of the November 3 elections found that 55% of respondents considered the war an unacceptable expense. Vice President JD Vance also identified the conflict as one of the reasons Republicans suffered electoral losses.

A White House representative emphasized that the president retains complete authority over the next steps.

“As Commander-in-Chief, President Trump is the architect and sole decision-maker who holds all the cards and will always ensure that America’s interests are ​protected,” a White House official said in a statement. “The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing. Only President Trump knows what he will do, and when.”

Neither the CIA nor the Office of the Director of National Intelligence provided a response to requests for comment.

RIYADH AND ANKARA CAUTION AGAINST A NEW OFFENSIVE

Two important regional leaders have privately encouraged Trump to avoid restarting the war. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan both used recent conversations with the president to argue against another military campaign, according to US officials and other individuals familiar with the discussions.

During an October 31 conversation, Trump reportedly told the Saudi crown prince that he was considering attacking Iran after the American elections. Bin Salman urged him not to proceed, contending that the existing economic pressure was already weakening Iran’s position.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions about the reported exchange.

Trump has also maintained frequent contact with Erdogan. Turkey’s presidency confirmed three conversations between the leaders since October 28. Following their November 7 discussion, Ankara publicly highlighted the importance of ending the confrontation between Iran and the United States.

Meanwhile, American intelligence assessments suggest that the combination of economic restrictions and the US maritime blockade is taking a significant toll on Iran. Officials familiar with those assessments believe maintaining the pressure could further weaken Tehran’s economy.

Washington is pursuing additional measures to restrict Iran’s access to supplies. The military is seeking to block shipments of weapons and other prohibited materials not only by sea but also through overland commercial routes and the Caspian Sea.

PENTAGON KEEPS MILITARY OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Although Trump may favor avoiding another offensive, the US military has not abandoned preparations for further operations.

American forces are maintaining the ability to intensify their campaign if the president gives the order, according to people familiar with military planning.

A third aircraft carrier is scheduled to enter the Middle East shortly. It is expected to take the place of one of the two carriers already operating in the region, although military planners could retain all three if the situation demands a larger deployment.

Among the potential targets being discussed are Iran’s underground nuclear installations. However, American forces have already attacked those facilities, and it remains uncertain whether another bombing campaign would produce meaningful additional results.

Intelligence officials have also questioned whether renewed airstrikes would improve Washington’s negotiating position. Their assessment is that further attacks would probably not persuade Iran to significantly revise its demands in potential negotiations.

Another concern involves the availability of American weapons. Trump has received briefings about military inventories, with particular attention to shortages involving certain precision-guided weapons. Reuters reported in August that US forces had expended “virtually all” of their long-range precision munitions. A source familiar with the latest assessments said those weapons have yet to be fully replaced.

The White House, however, rejected concerns that ammunition shortages could prevent the military from carrying out the president’s plans.

“The United States Military has enough munitions and ⁠ammo to serve ​all of the Commander-in-Chief’s strategic goals and beyond,” the White House official said.

ISRAEL SEEKS A RETURN TO MILITARY ACTION

While Saudi Arabia and Turkey are advocating restraint, Israel is continuing its efforts to persuade Washington that another military campaign against Iran is necessary, according to a US official.

Trump has recently suggested that negotiations have reached the limits of what they can accomplish. His comments have raised questions about whether he believes the diplomatic process has run its course, although he has not announced a decision to resume bombing.

The president also indicated that he does not consider a formal agreement with Tehran essential, pointing to American leverage over Iran’s financial resources and the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

“We don’t need a deal with Iran,” Trump said in a ​social media post on Thursday. “We’ve got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we’ve got their Strait!”

For now, Trump’s next move remains uncertain. His administration is balancing pressure from Israel for further action, appeals from regional partners to prevent another escalation, concerns about the economic consequences of the conflict, and the military’s readiness to resume operations.