Trump weighing advisers' counsel on Iran escalation, says US analyst

US affairs expert Raghida Dergham said the Pentagon's request for American defense companies to accelerate production does not mean the United States is about to launch a major operation or back down from one.

Speaking in an interview with Al Arabiya FM, she added that there is ongoing discussion about shortages in certain US military stockpiles, and the Pentagon may be preparing to address these gaps if such claims are accurate.

Dergham noted that US President Donald Trump is listening to his advisers' recommendations on how to manage the situation and is considering the outcomes from Iran, with the US aiming to avoid declaring defeat.
She continued that the US national security team is concerned Trump might be seen as backing down, as Iran continues to press for more concessions from Washington. Tehran currently appears to be in a comfortable position, with signs suggesting Trump may settle for simply reopening the Strait of Hormuz.