Eric Schmitt and Jonathan SwanJul 26, 2026 – 10.59amWashington | US President Donald Trump has set aside, at least for now, plans to sharply escalate the US military assault against Iran, with particular concern that intensifying the war could dangerously drain the Pentagon’s already diminished stockpile of Patriot antimissile interceptors and other air defence munitions in the Middle East.The threat to interceptor stockpiles is one of many considerations that have made a return to major combat operations a hugely risky endeavour, administration officials say. Trump and his top aides are also uneasy about the prospect of a widening war in the Middle East, the alienation of key Gulf allies who are vulnerable to Iranian attack, a global economic crunch, and growing energy and refugee crises.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
Trump abandons ‘massive’ Iran attack as US weapons run low
Among the Pentagon’s worries is that expanded hostilities could dangerously drain the diminished stockpile of air defence munitions in the Middle East.
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