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Trump Holds Off on Major Escalation Against Iran as Advisers Raise Concerns
NY Times ^ | July 25, 2026 | Eric Schmitt and Jonathan Swan

Posted on 07/25/2026 6:23:06 PM PDT by McGruff

President Trump has set aside, at least for now, plans to sharply escalate the American military assault against Iran, with particular concern that intensifying the war could dangerously drain the Pentagon’s already diminished stockpile of Patriot antimissile interceptors and other air defense munitions in the Middle East.

The threat to interceptor stockpiles is one of many considerations that have made a return to major combat operations a hugely risky endeavor, administration officials say. Mr. Trump and his top aides are also uneasy about the prospect of a widening war in the Middle East, the alienation of key Gulf allies who are vulnerable to Iranian attack, a global economic crunch, and growing energy and refugee crises.

The latest turn in Mr. Trump’s handling of the conflict with Iran came after a meeting on Friday with top advisers and senior members of his cabinet, according to two people briefed on the discussion.

The private deliberations have focused on the Pentagon’s shrinking inventory of Patriot interceptors and other air defenses, the officials said, discussing operational matters on the condition of anonymity. Three U.S. soldiers in Jordan were killed last Friday when a ballistic missile slipped through American air defenses fending off a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones, a senior U.S. official said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Iran; News/Current Events; War
KEYWORDS: 100billiondollars; 100swounded; 123oclock4oclockzot; 18dead; 5thcolumnonfr; anonymoussources; ericschmitt; frwarpsychosis; jonathanswan; lookwhohatesamerica; mctroll; mullahloversonfr; multiplenicks; nyt; nytsedition; nytspam; randspam; tacosaturday
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1 posted on 07/25/2026 6:23:06 PM PDT by McGruff
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To: McGruff

Consider the source.


2 posted on 07/25/2026 6:26:31 PM PDT by Kleon
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To: McGruff

This means Iran wins we don’t have the capability of going to war for the amount of time needed to defeat them .. Iran plays the long game they have nothing to lose .. we do I don’t know why we don’t have the weapons but it explains what happened in April it wasn’t jd Vance who put a stop to it we just don’t have enough weapons to last enough time to really destroy them unless we Nuke them


3 posted on 07/25/2026 6:27:32 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: McGruff

President Trump has temporarily held off on a major military escalation against Iran, opting instead for a temporary pause in airstrikes following two weeks of consecutive nightly attacks

Military leaders warned Trump that a larger bombing campaign would dangerously drain dwindling stockpiles of Patriot anti-missile defense interceptors.

Regional Risks: Advisers cautioned that heavier fighting could leave U.S. troops and Gulf allies exposed to severe Iranian retaliation.


4 posted on 07/25/2026 6:32:39 PM PDT by 1035rep
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To: McGruff

Consider the source but if we can’t handle the Iranians god forbid we ever get in a “real” war with a serious adversary that isn’t more than 75% disabled as the Insanians supposedly are.

Imagine that, short on munitions in a battle with a two bit dictatorship that is supposedly already decapitated. Hmmm. The truth of the matter has been lost somewhere it seems.


5 posted on 07/25/2026 6:34:15 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (Opinions and belly buttons, everybody has one and they get to show them if they want to.)
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To: Kleon
Consider the source.

Consider the reality.

He stopped. Again.

6 posted on 07/25/2026 6:34:52 PM PDT by Gunslingr3
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To: Sarah Barracuda
according to two people briefed on the discussion...discussing operational matters on the condition of anonymity

You buy into such very thin gruel, I see, without any logical analysis. For example, which two people would have been "briefed" on the discussion and, if two such people exist, why would they need anonymity? Answer...if they exist, they are leaking information they have no business spreading around. Also, if they are leaking, how can we know such snakes are not lying?

7 posted on 07/25/2026 6:35:57 PM PDT by Avalon Memories (It seems to be a law of nature...that those who will not risk cannot win. --John Paul Jones)
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To: McGruff

Fog of “war” and politics.
Hard to saw what is or isn’t true.

But, quite disturbing to think that this isn’t even a “real” war and we are already running out of “bullets”.


8 posted on 07/25/2026 6:42:42 PM PDT by sjmjax
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To: Sequoyah101

Stay calm. We’ll hit them with a strongly worded MOU. /s


9 posted on 07/25/2026 6:43:59 PM PDT by chickenlips (Neuter your politicians)
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To: Kleon

NYC rooted for King George. They’ve never been American.

This just shows how hard it is to fight a war with the Deep State and America’s so-called “Free Press” on your throat.

Still, it’s better than being in the ‘Rat’s lovers’ spat in Ukraine.


10 posted on 07/25/2026 6:45:08 PM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: 1035rep

More from AI

In the Works: The administration has engaged major defense contractors—including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman—and invoked measures like the Defense Production Act to ramp up manufacturing capacity.

Substantial quantities of key air defense systems and precision weapons were drawn down to support Ukraine’s regional defense needs prior to and during the ongoing conflict. Exact classified figures on total percentages given away remain restricted, but the sustained drawdowns heavily strained readiness.


11 posted on 07/25/2026 6:45:40 PM PDT by 1035rep
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To: chickenlips

If we’re out of munitions after three months. Where in the hell has all the money gone. The military budget is nearly $1 Trillion per year.


12 posted on 07/25/2026 6:48:17 PM PDT by HonorInPa
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To: Avalon Memories

Very true. What I posted came from AI but of course rumors reach them too. If this is true and somebody leaked it, they should be hanged.


13 posted on 07/25/2026 6:48:47 PM PDT by 1035rep
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To: Sarah Barracuda
This means Iran wins

If true, it would mean Iran defeated the United States under the leadership of President Trump who told us "“we’ve totally destroyed their military.”

Of all the trumped up impeachment charges, this would turn out to be the only legitimate one, if it is true.

We will soon see.
14 posted on 07/25/2026 6:50:36 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: 1035rep

If this is true Iran knows that our military are sitting ducks they will hit them just so they can laugh and say “hey US whatcha gonna do.. nothing “


15 posted on 07/25/2026 6:50:47 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: Empire_of_Liberty
This just shows how hard it is to fight a war with the Deep State and America’s so-called “Free Press” on your throat.

One can understand why President Lincoln simply shut down 300+ newspapers.

16 posted on 07/25/2026 6:51:51 PM PDT by Captain Walker ("Ne illegitimi carborundum esse.")
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To: af_vet_1981

Their military is destroyed but they got huge shipments of weapons from Russia who needs a military all you need is a truck to launch them from


17 posted on 07/25/2026 6:51:51 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: Gunslingr3
He stopped. Again.

I'm sure he wants the Iranians to believe that's true. There's probably a plan to take Khark Island as we speak.

18 posted on 07/25/2026 6:52:31 PM PDT by Kleon
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To: Sarah Barracuda

The war was over in March. All our objectives were achieved. We should not be there.

Trump, March 12th 2026
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/donald-trump-says-ve-won-081633000.html

“We won. We won. In the first hour it was over, but we won.”


Pete Hegseth, April 8, 2026
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4454276/epic-fury-quelled-for-now-objectives-accomplished-us-forces-remain-ready/

“Together with our Israeli partners, America’s military achieved every single objective on plan, on schedule, exactly as laid out from day one.”


19 posted on 07/25/2026 6:53:04 PM PDT by moviefan8
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To: McGruff
NY Times

ignore them...

20 posted on 07/25/2026 6:53:39 PM PDT by Mr. K (no i think 10%consequence of repealing obamacare is worse than obamacare itself.)
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