US President Donald Trump halted strikes against Iran as the question of the US’s declining munitions stock and its impact on the war has become widely debated, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday night, citing US officials familiar with the matter.
Trump over the weekend decided not to renew its strikes, despite military plans to launch a large-scale offensive that could have lasted up to two weeks, according to the officials.
The officials added that Trump could still order an attack on Iran, noting that “the situation remains fluid.”
In a statement made to the Wall Street Journal, Trump denied the claims that munitions shortages were behind his decision to halt strikes against Iran after 13 consecutive days of bombing.
“We have far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need,” he asserted.
Dan Caine, Brad Cooper believe renewed Iran strikes could happen
However, according to the officials, other top US officials have said otherwise.
Officials told the Wall Street Journal that while US Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine is concerned about the declining inventory, he believes that a munitions shortage would pose an added risk should strikes against Iran resume, rather than completely hindering an operation.
Several other officials quoted by the Wall Street Journal added that US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper thinks in a similar vein.
According to the officials, Cooper believes that the US would be able to deal with a munitions shortage if strikes resume because any American attacks - if approved - would significantly damage Iran’s missile-launching capability.
The Wall Street Journal added that the White House has said that news agencies reporting accurate numbers on the US’s munitions stockpile would be a national security risk.
A diminished munitions inventory creates a “near-term risk” in case of larger global conflict, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing an April report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“A war against a capable peer competitor like China will consume munitions at greater rates than in this war,” it went on.
US continuing diplomatic talks, prepared for military option
On Saturday, sources familiar with the administration’s decision-making process told The Jerusalem Post that Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to launch a major strike against Iran.
As the president said on Friday, the United States is continuing diplomatic talks with Tehran while keeping the military option fully prepared.
“We’re locked and loaded,” Trump said, adding that Washington could escalate its military campaign “to a much higher level” if necessary, but that his preferred option remains a negotiated agreement.
Idan Kweller, Tzvi Jasper, Yonah Jeremy Bob, and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.