U.S. Media Reveals Reasons for Trump's Delay in Expanding Military Operations Against Iran

On July 25, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington that The New York Times, citing two informed sources, stated that U.S. President Trump has postponed plans to expand military strikes against Iran due to concerns that escalating the conflict could provoke a stronger retaliation from Iran, further depleting the Pentagon's stockpile of air defense interceptors in the Middle East.

The two informed sources told The New York Times that Trump held a meeting on the 24th with senior advisors and high-ranking government officials, focusing on the issue of the depletion of the Pentagon's air defense ammunition stock, including the "Patriot" systems. One government official mentioned that Iranian ballistic missiles recently breached U.S. air defense systems, resulting in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers stationed in Jordan.

Since the 7th of this month, the U.S. has launched a series of military strikes against Iran, citing the need to respond to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Subsequently, U.S. military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE were subjected to intense attacks from Iran. According to U.S. media reports, Trump stated on the 23rd that he was considering launching a "large-scale strike" against Iran. Just before the meeting on the 24th, Trump was still contemplating expanding military actions against Iran. After the meeting that day, Trump ordered U.S. forces not to strike Iran.

The New York Times reported that Trump's temporary shelving of plans for a larger-scale strike against Iran indicates that he has been somewhat persuaded by military advisors. If the U.S. escalates its operations against Iran, it could provoke a stronger retaliation, putting greater pressure on U.S. air defense systems.

According to a report by The New York Times in April, the Pentagon has consumed over 1,200 "Patriot" air defense missiles during the U.S.-Iran conflict, with each missile costing over $4 million. U.S. military officials revealed this week that the stockpile of "Patriot" missiles has further decreased since then.