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Why has Trump left Iran’s nuclear stockpile untouched?

Financial Times
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2 min read
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A 2026 analysis reveals the Trump administration avoided direct military strikes on Iran’s nuclear stockpile despite escalating tensions, prioritizing covert cyber operations and economic sanctions over kinetic action to curb Tehran’s uranium enrichment. Intelligence reports suggest Iran’s nuclear program advanced under indirect pressure, with enrichment levels nearing weapons-grade thresholds by 2025, yet avoiding outright confrontation that could trigger regional instability or accelerate proliferation. Former officials cite fears of unintended consequences, including Iranian retaliation via proxy groups or accelerated clandestine nuclear development, as key deterrents against preemptive strikes during Trump’s potential second term. The strategy relied on cyber sabotage—targeting centrifuge networks—and diplomatic isolation, mirroring past Israeli-U.S. collaborations like Stuxnet, but with limited long-term success in halting Tehran’s technical progress. Experts argue the approach reflects a calculated gamble: balancing aggression with restraint to avoid a wider Middle East conflict while betting on internal Iranian economic collapse to force concessions.
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Source: Financial Times

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