Current sectionU.S. NewsAnalysis Time and again, the U.S. president shows he will return to war only as a last resort. The Mideast has grasped this – and it may trigger a major clash ■ Israeli defense officials confirm receiving a U.S. message to rein in Gaza strikesShare to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeAmos Harel05:53 PM • August 02 2026 IDTImagine, for the sake of illustration, a small country in the Middle East. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his public threats to launch another massive attack on Iran. Loading...Click the alert icon to follow topics:Iran - U.S.Middle EastIranIsrael - U.S.Donald TrumpStrait of HormuzCommentsLoading...In the NewsIn the News: Live UpdatesU.S.-IranNetanyahuGaza DealEisenkotMichigan PrimaryElection PollsHaQuizHaaretz PodcastThe Art of the Deal – or of Bullshit? Trump's Wariness of Another Iran WarA Palestinian Doctor Held in an Israeli Prison Describes Neglect and HumiliationIsrael's Fault? The Conspiracy Theory Surrounding Spain's Ceuta Border Crossings'Risking New Yorkers' Lives': Israel's Herzog Accuses Mamdani of AntisemitismPalestinian Teen Hospitalized in Severe Condition Tied by Guards to Bed for WeekRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMINetanyahu Says Israel Has 'Special Forces' Ready if He's Arrested on NY VisitThis Israeli ultra-Orthodox Feminist Activist Has a Warning for U.S. JewsAl Jazeera Reportedly Ends Contracts of Over 20 Gazan JournalistsTwo Female Israeli Soldiers Die by Suicide as IDF Mental Health Crisis DeepensDozens of IDF Soldiers Desert Sde Teiman Base in Protest of CommanderTrump's Irritation, Netanyahu's Desperation: Oval Office Smiles Mask Rifts