While touting his announcement of new sanctions against Iran, President
Trump indicated that he does not intend to attack Iran just now, even
though it “would be a very easy decision” and most people expected him to do so.
Instead, Trump credited himself, saying “I think I’m showing great
restraint,” and that there is still “plenty of time” for potential Iran
conflicts, adding they’ll be “very sorry” at some point in the future.
That said, Trump’s aversion to starting a war immediately doesn’t seem
to be too deeply held of a conviction, as he even playfully told
reporters that “I could do it right here, in front of you. And that will
be it,” with US forces just waiting for the order.
The immediate US move is new sanctions and new deployments of troops
into Saudi Arabia to defend oil resources. Yet that includes adding more
military assets into the area, and with Trump not ruling out a war
decision in the future, the deployments seem just another step in the
direction of war.
Trump Not Planning to Attack Iran Right Now
Says attack would be 'very easy decision' but he wants restraint
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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