According to Axios, U. S. President Donald Trump has dropped the idea of launching a military strike on Iran, opting instead for a pressure-first strategy that avoids the direct use of force. Rather than a kinetic scenario, the White House is leaning on a mix of negotiations and a visible show of strength to shape Tehran’s calculations.

Washington, the outlet reports, is entering talks with what it sees as substantial leverage. This includes a marked buildup of U.S. military assets in the Persian Gulf and Iran’s weakened position amid mounting domestic instability. The message is meant to be clear: diplomacy is on offer, but it comes backed by hard power.

To handle contacts, Trump dispatched his special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. At the same time, officials in the White House insist the diplomatic track is not a cover for a surprise attack, even as U.S. forces in the region have been placed on heightened alert.

Axios notes that Trump had previously given serious consideration to a military option before ultimately stepping back. The shift was driven by doubts about whether air strikes would deliver decisive results, as well as concerns that Iran could respond with large-scale attacks across the region, triggering an escalation that would be difficult to contain.

Alongside Washington’s moves, several countries have stepped up diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation. These initiatives have paved the way for a meeting scheduled for Friday, February 6, with regional intermediaries also joining the process.

People close to the U.S. president stress that Trump is not seeking war. However, they caution that if Iran fails to put forward concrete and substantive proposals, its position could deteriorate sharply in a very short time.