Why Donald Trump Delays an Attack on Iran – Strategy and Fears of the US President

Everything remains uncertain as President Donald Trump weighs whether to strike military and nuclear installations in Iran. The White House announced on Thursday (19/06/2025) that, given the possibility of upcoming negotiations with Iran, a decision will be made within the next two weeks. This delay is not coincidental, as Trump seeks to evaluate all options carefully. Elected under the promise of staying out of wars, he does not want to alienate his voter base who wish to avoid further foreign conflicts. There are also concerns about the success of such an operation, as critical Iranian nuclear facilities are nearly impenetrable. The White House considers using the powerful GBU-57 bomb, known as MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), but doubts persist within the Pentagon about its effectiveness against Iranian infrastructure. Trump seems hesitant about a ‘half-successful’ attack that would not fully destroy Iran’s capabilities. Despite aggressive rhetoric, Trump remains committed to diplomacy, hoping threats of force can lead to peaceful resolutions. Domestically, the president must balance the demands of his nationalist ‘America First’ base against pressure from Republican Party hawks. His unpredictable strategy aims to keep Iran and its allies constantly alert, leveraging uncertainty as a deterrent. However, escalation could have catastrophic global consequences, including attacks on Israel or U.S. bases, cyberattacks, and severe economic repercussions like skyrocketing oil prices and market crashes—a scenario Trump wants to avoid after promising economic prosperity and peace to American citizens.