Analyst: Trump exercising 'strategic patience' with Iran

Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump continues to exercise "strategic patience" in weighing a potential military strike against Iran. Once again, he has delayed making what could be the most challenging decision of his presidency, opting to prioritize diplomacy for at least two more weeks, according to political analyst Suren Sargsyan.

“In the meantime, staying true to his negotiation tactics, Trump is expected to maintain maximum pressure on Iran,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday. “This pressure is likely to take the form of formal approval of military strike plans, public statements indicating that 'patience is wearing thin', the deployment of U.S. warships and military aircraft to the Middle East, tightened security measures for American personnel in the region and increased National Security Council activity."

Sargsyan also noted that Trump appears to be ignoring the assessment of the U.S. intelligence chief, who stated that "Iran is not building a nuclear weapon."

Within Trump’s team and the broader public, opinions remain divided, ranging from advocates of tough military action to supporters of delicate diplomatic engagement, the analyst stated.

“Any decision could have negative consequences for Trump, particularly if the war is prolonged and costs billions of dollars,” he added.