Chance of Iran war expansion dropped after Trump declared economic warfare, officials say

Security sources said the chances of expanding the military confrontation with Iran in the near term have decreased, following meetings with senior US officials. Trump's new sanctions package is intended to buy time until after the US midterm elections. The IDF will increase preparedness for worst-case scenarios.

Security sources said on Friday that the chances of expanding the military confrontation with Iran in the near term have decreased, following a series of meetings and discussions with senior US officials. According to the officials, US President Donald Trump's decision to impose another harsh package of economic sanctions is intended to "buy time" until after the US midterm elections. Accordingly, the IDF will increase its level of preparedness for the worst-case scenario of renewed strikes against Iran across all areas: intelligence, weapons procurement, interceptor production, target bank development, and Air Force readiness for both defensive and offensive operations. At this stage, it is unclear whether the US will succeed in deterring and forcefully pressuring countries that support the Iranian regime. Security officials said that without extreme decisions and aggressive American enforcement, the US president will not achieve the desired outcome. Meanwhile, the defense establishment fears that without government intervention and a rapid legislative process to increase the budget deficit framework, it will not be possible to carry out rapid procurement of various types of munitions. A security official said that the person ultimately responsible for making the decision on the matter is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who must advance legislation in the Knesset before the recess. Amid Trump's announcement, the IRGC spokesperson warned that if the war resumes, "we will use more destructive weapons."