Donald Trump was primed to launch deadly strikes on Iran this week but was convinced to perform a dramatic last-minute U-turn, according to insiders. 

Fears over a huge war in the Middle East erupted this week after the US President sent several warnings to Iran, suggesting strikes on the country were imminent. He took to his Truth Social platform to urge protesters to continue demonstrations because “help is on the way.”

At one point, tensions appeared to reach a boiling point after Iran briefly closed its airspace, sparking widespread speculation that US military action was imminent.

White House officials insisted that “all options remain on the table”, even as behind-the-scenes warnings were issued that any strike risked triggering a wider and prolonged conflict across the Middle East.

Sources said Donald Trump was initially leaning towards military action, with some US defence officials reportedly believing strikes were likely within hours.

However, advisers cautioned that limited attacks on Iranian targets might fail to weaken the regime and could instead drag the US into another drawn-out regional conflict, with no clear strategy for what would come next.

Donald Trump later insisted the decision to pull back was his, telling reporters he had “convinced myself” after being informed that planned executions of detainees in Iran had been halted.

“You had yesterday scheduled over 800 hangings,” he said. “They didn’t hang anyone. They canceled the hangings. That had a big impact.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that the president had nevertheless sought advice from a wide range of senior officials as the crisis escalated, with doubts raised over whether air strikes alone could bring about meaningful change.

The sudden shift sparked criticism from experts, who warned the reversal could damage US credibility and leave Iranian protesters feeling exposed.

Suzanne Maloney, an Iran specialist and vice president for foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, said the episode risked fuelling a deep sense of betrayal among Iranians that could endure long after this presidency ends.

US officials were also reportedly consulting closely with allies in the region, including Israel and several Arab states, amid warnings the situation inside Iran was too volatile to predict the outcome of any military action.

Israel urged caution, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly warning that it may already have been too late for military action to help the uprising inside Iran.

Advisers cautioned that conditions inside Iran were highly unstable, while concerns were also raised that US allies including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia could face retaliation at American military bases if Iran struck back.

They also warned that escalation could pull neighbouring countries into the crisis, with knock-on effects that would be hard to control once fighting started.

US military assets were nonetheless repositioned in the region, leaving the president with options should he decide to change course in the days ahead.

Mr Trump struck a more conciliatory tone after the decision, publicly thanking Iran’s leadership for halting planned executions, though he did not specify how the information had been confirmed.