Washington, January 16, 2026 – U.S. President Donald Trump has delayed a final decision on possible military strikes against Iran, opting instead to consult closely with senior administration officials and key regional partners regarding the timing, scope, and potential strategic consequences of any operation. The postponement comes amid escalating tensions over Iran's brutal crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests, which have entered their third week and drawn widespread international condemnation.
A senior U.S. official, speaking to Axios on condition of anonymity, emphasized that "the president isn't taking any option off the table, now or in the future. People shouldn't try to box him in," underscoring the administration's deliberate approach to the crisis. The internal deliberations follow days of intense debate within the National Security Council and Pentagon, where Trump was briefed on a range of military options, including targeted airstrikes on Iranian security facilities, command centers, and other non-nuclear infrastructure.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly spoke with Trump on Wednesday, January 14, urging a delay to allow Israel additional time to bolster its air defenses and prepare for potential Iranian retaliation. According to multiple U.S. and Israeli sources cited by The New York Times and other outlets, Netanyahu expressed concerns that premature U.S. action could provoke a broader regional conflict, including missile strikes on Israeli territory or attacks on U.S. bases by Iranian proxies. Netanyahu's intervention aligns with similar appeals from Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, which have quietly urged Washington to exercise restraint to avoid destabilizing the region further.
While military options remain actively under consideration, significant concerns persist within the administration and among allies about the effectiveness of limited strikes. Intelligence assessments suggest that targeted actions against Iranian security forces—such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or Basij militia—might not sufficiently weaken or destabilize the regime, potentially leading instead to escalated counterattacks on U.S. assets, allies, or shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf. Officials have highlighted the risk of a "wider conflict," including disruptions to global energy supplies, given Iran's threats to retaliate against U.S. and Israeli targets.
In parallel with the diplomatic pause, the U.S. military has undertaken precautionary measures in the region. The Pentagon is evacuating non-essential personnel from several bases in the Middle East while deploying reinforcements, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group. The carrier, previously operating in the South China Sea, has been redirected westward toward the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, accompanied by guided-missile destroyers, cruisers, and support vessels. Satellite imagery and maritime tracking data confirm the group's movement, which is expected to take approximately one week. This surge also includes additional air defense systems, such as interceptor missiles, to protect key installations like Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The military repositioning serves dual purposes: deterring further Iranian aggression against protesters and providing Trump with enhanced options should he authorize action. Defense officials describe the moves as a "prudent" response to heightened risks, echoing preparations before previous U.S. operations in the region.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt credited Trump's public warnings and diplomatic pressure for influencing a reported postponement of approximately 800 planned executions of detained protesters. In a briefing on Thursday, Leavitt stated that Tehran had "halted" these executions amid weeks of unrest, following Trump's repeated threats of "very strong action" if killings continued. Trump had earlier declared the U.S. "locked and loaded" to support protesters and promised that "help is on its way." On Wednesday, January 14, he softened his rhetoric after receiving assurances from "very important sources" that lethal force against demonstrators had ceased and no large-scale executions were imminent.
The apparent de-escalation in execution plans centered on the high-profile case of 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani, whose family and rights groups like Hengaw reported a postponement of his scheduled hanging. Iranian state media and judiciary clarified that Soltani was not sentenced to death, facing instead charges of propaganda against the regime and collusion against national security—offenses not carrying capital punishment. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a Fox News interview on Wednesday, explicitly denied any plans for executions, stating, "There is no plan for hanging at all... I can tell you, I'm confident about that."
To intensify economic leverage, the U.S. Treasury Department announced fresh sanctions on Thursday targeting Ali Larijani, secretary general of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), along with other senior officials deemed "architects" of the crackdown. Larijani, a close adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was accused of coordinating security responses and publicly calling for force against protesters. Additional designations hit four regional IRGC and Law Enforcement commanders, the notorious Fardis Prison (noted for cruel treatment of women detainees), and 18 entities tied to Iran's "shadow banking" networks that allegedly launder billions in oil and petrochemical revenues. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the actions as support for the Iranian people's "call for freedom and justice," freezing U.S. assets and prohibiting transactions.
The protests, which erupted on December 28, 2025, initially over economic grievances like hyperinflation and rial collapse, have spread nationwide, evolving into broader anti-regime demands. U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports over 2,600 deaths and 19,000 detentions, though figures remain unverified due to a near-total internet blackout imposed since early January. Iranian officials attribute the unrest to foreign-backed "riots" and "terrorism," vowing continued suppression.
As Trump weighs next steps, the postponement reflects a calculated balance between supporting protesters, deterring regime brutality, and avoiding unintended escalation. Regional allies and U.S. intelligence continue to monitor developments closely, with the administration stressing that "all options remain on the table" should the crackdown resume.
