Trump postpones expanded Iran strike after Pentagon warns of interceptor shortage

President Donald Trump has set aside a proposed large-scale bombing campaign against Iran after senior officials warned that a broader war could deplete the United States' Patriot missile interceptor inventory in the Middle East. The Pentagon reported that more than 1,200 interceptors, each costing over $4 million, had already been used by late April, leaving stocks at critically low levels.

During a closed-door meeting on Friday with senior advisers and cabinet members, the president was advised that further intensive combat could strain air defenses protecting U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which have recently come under Iranian missile and drone attacks. A senior U.S. official said three soldiers were killed in Jordan after a ballistic missile breached defenses.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, privately told the president that while a large-scale operation was militarily feasible, it risked exhausting interceptor supplies needed by U.S. Central Command. A spokesperson for Gen. Caine declined to comment.

Trump had previously indicated readiness for heavier attacks, stating to reporters that the U.S. forces were “locked and loaded.” In an interview, he said he was “considering a massive attack.” However, by late Friday the president appeared to have paused the plan, citing the military assessments of high defensive costs.

The proposed operation had included strikes on Iranian coastal radar, anti-ship missile sites, small attack vessels and, in broader scenarios, energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities such as the Pickaxe Mountain site. U.S. forces have already targeted Iranian railway bridges used for military logistics, though they also serve civilian traffic.

While direct U.S. strikes paused after 13 consecutive nights of attacks, regional tensions remain high, with fighting in Yemen escalating and fuel prices rising amid ongoing hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz. White House communications director Steven Cheung said the president continues to prefer a diplomatic solution but retains all options if Iran persists in activities deemed hostile.

Advisers including Jared Kushner have advocated for a lower-risk approach focused on negotiations and economic pressure. Recent U.S. sanctions targeted companies linked to Iranian financier Babak Zanjani, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted a 40 percent drop in Chinese purchases of Iranian crude, reducing Tehran’s oil revenue. The White House maintains that military action remains an option, but the expanded bombing plan is currently on hold.