Axios: 4 Reasons Trump Pulled Back From Striking Iran
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Four key reasons reportedly led Trump to cancel a planned strike on Iran.
- Concerns included insufficient US forces, allied warnings, Israeli caution, and a back-channel diplomatic communication.
Axios reported, citing US and 'Israeli' officials, that four factors led President Donald Trump to retract plans for a military strike on Iran last Wednesday, in response to Tehran’s handling of widespread protests.
Insufficient forces in the region
The first reason cited was a lack of adequate US forces and equipment in the Middle East to carry out a strike and respond to potential Iranian retaliation. Since the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, Washington has redeployed significant military assets to the Caribbean and East Asia.
Warnings from allies
The second factor was warnings from US allies about potential regional instability. Axios quoted an adviser to 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Netanyahu called Trump on January 14, stressing that 'Israel' was not prepared to defend itself against any Iranian retaliation from an imminent US strike.
'Israeli' caution
The third reason was 'Israel’s' recommendation to postpone the strike. According to the official 'Israeli' broadcaster, 'Israel' preferred delaying any limited US strike in favor of preparing for a larger operation later, noting that a small-scale strike could trigger a broad Iranian response.
Back-channel diplomacy
The fourth factor involved a back-channel communication between Washington and Tehran. US officials told Axios that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a text to US envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday, pledging to postpone planned executions of protest participants. The two also discussed a diplomatic track to reduce tensions.
Context
The US and 'Israel' have been increasing pressure on Tehran since late December 2025, when popular protests erupted across Iran over worsening economic and living conditions. Trump’s decision reflects a combination of military, diplomatic, and allied considerations aimed at avoiding escalation.
