WSJ: Trump considers new strikes on Iran if US troops suffer casualties

US President Donald Trump has privately told his advisers that he would consider resuming military action against Iran in the event of US military fatalities, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing American officials.

At the same time, officials said the president insists that a week-long pause in airstrikes remains in place, despite recent exchanges of attacks.

Trump’s reluctance to re-escalate the conflict suggests he may be willing to tolerate “smaller flare-ups” for weeks or even months in order to avoid a broader escalation in the Middle East, the report added.

The United States and Iran this week saw some of the fiercest clashes since a ceasefire took effect in early April, as Iran launched missiles and drones at regional US bases and Kuwait’s international airport. One person was killed in the attacks.

The struggle over control of the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted global energy markets and international shipping, with Tehran restricting commercial traffic through the strategic waterway while the United States imposes a tight blockade on Iranian ports.

By Jeyhun Aghazada