Trump delays expansion of Iran operation over interceptor shortage concerns

US President Donald Trump has decided to temporarily postpone a significant expansion of the military operation against Iran due to the risk of further depleting stocks of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems and other air defense assets, Report informs, citing The New York Times.

The decision was made after a meeting with key advisers and senior officials held on July 24.

According to the newspaper's sources, the main topic of the meeting was the decline in interceptor missile stocks. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned that Central Command could resume large-scale military operations against Iran, but that doing so could reduce interceptor stocks to dangerously low levels.

The newspaper noted that most members of Trump's inner circle do not support further escalation of the conflict. According to one US official, large-scale strikes are unlikely to force Iran back to negotiations and could instead help consolidate Iranian society.

The US administration is also concerned about the risk of the conflict expanding, a possible deterioration in relations with Gulf allies, and the worsening of energy and migration crises, The New York Times said.