U.S. was close to striking Iran in January but held back, ambassador says — tensions remain high

The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has acknowledged that Washington came close to launching a military strike on Iran in mid-January but ultimately decided against it after weighing the potential consequences. The comments come amid a period of escalating tension between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s internal unrest and wider regional security concerns. 

In a recent interview aired on Israeli television, Huckabee said the Trump administration had not yet made a final decision on whether to carry out a strike and was still seeking a peaceful outcome with Iran. He suggested that President Donald Trump remains hopeful diplomacy can prevail, even while preparing for other options. Huckabee described the January pull-back as a considered judgment after careful evaluation of risks.

The remarks align with broader indications that Washington is balancing pressure on Tehran with efforts to avoid a full-scale conflict. A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln was deployed to the Middle East late last month, signaling heightened readiness even as officials express interest in negotiations. 

Iran has warned that any U.S. military action would spark wider conflict in the region, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying such a strike could lead to war.  

The situation remains tense. While diplomatic channels are said to be open and both sides have expressed a preference for talks, the future course of U.S. policy toward Iran has not been firmly set, according to Huckabee.