Shafaq News
By Frank Musmar*
US President Donald Trump has reportedly delayed planned militarystrikes onIran due to a combination of diplomatic concessions, requestsfrom allies, and tactical reassessments. Highlighting these factors can reassurethe audience that decisions are made with caution and consideration. The delayreflects a careful approach, emphasizing that the situation remains underreview and not subject to impulsive action.
Some reports said Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu asked Trump to postpone the strikes to give Israel time tobolster its missile defenses against a guaranteed Iranian retaliation. Otherreports noted that Gulf allies —specifically Saudi Arabia, the United ArabEmirates, Qatar, and Oman— have lobbied the administration to avoid militaryescalation, reflecting shared concerns about regional stability and security. Recognizing these regional worries can help the audience feel that theirsecurity interests are acknowledged and considered in decision-making. Whilemilitary action is paused, the administration maintains that"alloptions remain on the table.” This openness can help the audience feel informedand trust that the situation remains under careful review.
The tactical reassessment is themost important, as the need for US aircraft carriers to arrive in the region isa key factor in the delay. As of mid-January [2026], there are no US aircraftcarrier strike groups currently in the Persian Gulf. The nearest carrier, theUSSAbraham Lincoln, was in the South China Sea and is reportedly beingrepositioned toward the Middle East to support regional security. This journeycould take about a week. This deliberate repositioning demonstrates a carefulstrategy to strengthen US military readiness, thereby reassuring the audiencethat the delay is a thoughtful and well-planned decision.
The US aircraft carrier strikegroup's arrival in the Arabian Gulf largely depends on its starting locationand the operational tempo of the transit. From the Indo-Pacific/IndianOcean, a carrier can arrive in approximatelyone week. TheUSSAbraham Lincoln, currently repositioning from the South China Sea, isexpected to enter the region by late January 2026, a journey of about 7 days. From the US West Coast, a standard transit involving stops and exercisestypically takes4-6 weeks. In an urgent scenario, it might be possible injust under a month (around 28 days). From the US East Coast, atransit tothe Middle East requires crossing the Atlantic and then the Suez Canal. Acarrier can reach the entrance to the Mediterranean in about 5-10 days, and theentire journey to the Arabian Gulf could take two to three weeks. Accordingly,I am expecting the strike to be rescheduled to the end of the month.
Why is it essential? Consideringrequests from allies not to use the American bases in their countries to avoidretaliation from whatever is left of the Iranian regime's supporters, it wouldbe more reasonable to use the aircraft carriers and to give the Iranian regimethe reason to attack the Gulf states, which will expand the conflict and affectthe oil market.
*Dr. Frank Musmar is a politicalanalyst specializing in American politics and the Middle East.
These opinions are the author’s own anddo not necessarily reflect the views of Shafaq News.
