WASHINGTON — President Trump does not plan to take further action against Iran following its “failed retaliation” strike on a US base in Qatar Monday, a military official and two other sources close to the situation told The Post.
“As long as it stands, Trump has no intention of retaliating for the ‘failed retaliation,’” the Pentagon source said, suggesting that tensions in the Middle East will soon de-escalate following Saturday’s US strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
A White House official and a source close to the administration confirmed Trump’s intentions, with the latter saying: “After achieving his goal of destroying their nuclear program, the president is clearly heading toward a de-escalatory path that doesn’t involve plunging us into a forever war with Iran.”
A fourth insider said that those around Trump believe he’s inclined to end direct US military engagement with Iran — as he calls for resumed talks and peace in the region.
Tehran launched a total of 14 missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base southwest of Doha, 13 of which were intercepted, Trump revealed on Truth Social Monday afternoon.
The remaining missile, in Trump’s words, was “‘set free,’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction.”
The military source also told The Post the Iranian missile launches appear to have been coordinated, with Qatar allowing itself to be targeted to “save face.”
Restraint would be consistent with the president’s approach in 2020, when Iran attacked the al-Asad airbase in western Iraq but killed no Americans following the Trump-ordered assassination of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a diplomatic source noted.
The US military, joining Israel’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear program, dropped 14 “bunker buster” bombs on Iran’s Fordow enrichment facility and launched 30 Tomahawk missiles at nuclear sites in Natanz and Isfahan Saturday night.
Trump, 79, renewed his post-attack call for hostilities to end after the rockets were shot down over Qatar.
The president’s public remarks in the conflict have been hard to take at face value, however, due to a series of strategic deceptions — including giving the impression that strikes were not imminent when Israel launched its initial attack on June 13 and then suggesting Thursday he would take up to two weeks to decide on whether to dispatch a US bombing mission.
“I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done,” Trump wrote after the Iranian missiles were mostly intercepted.
“Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”
