Israeli and Arab officials have advised US President Donald Trump in recent days to delay a large-scale military strike on Iran, saying the regime may not yet be weakened enough for such action to be decisive, NBC reported on Tuesday, citing multiple American and regional sources.
The conversations, involving senior political and military figures, unfolded as nationwide protests in Iran entered a third week and the White House weighed its options.
Officials argued that outside intervention at this stage could backfire, potentially galvanizing support for Tehran amid the crackdown.
Trump has publicly warned Iran over the killing of protesters and signaled that “help is on its way,” while his team reviews military and non-military measures.
According to NBC, Israel has told Washington they support regime change and US efforts to facilitate it, but worry that major strikes now might not “finish the job” begun by protesters.
Fear that strikes would bring support for Iranian regime
Some Arab officials voiced concern that US or Israeli attacks could trigger a ‘rally around the flag effect,’ where public approval for a country's leaders surges during a national crisis, inside Iran.
The sources cited by NBC outlined steps short of a broad assault, including boosting circumvention tools to break Iran’s internet blackout, intensifying sanctions, and targeted cyber operations.
Gulf officials expressed a “lack of enthusiasm” for US strikes at this time, warning that escalation could unify Iranians, according to NBC. Even as Trump told Iranians to “keep protesting,” his aides emphasized that diplomacy remains on the table alongside other options.
Trump also warned that if Iran retaliates, the US would respond at levels “never seen before,” underscoring the risks of miscalculation as Washington weighs next steps.