Poised and confused: the will-he-won’t-he of Iran strikes
The Economist
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The United States is facing a critical decision point as tensions with Iran escalate, with President Donald Trump at the center of this uncertain standoff. Despite his administration’s focus on diplomacy, there remains a significant buildup of military hardware in the Middle East, marking the largest deployment in over two decades. This move has left observers wondering whether Trump will follow through on his threats to strike Iran or seek a diplomatic resolution. The situation is further complicated by Trump's history of abandoning international agreements, such as the 2015 nuclear deal, which he scrapped three years ago. For businesses, this uncertainty poses risks to global trade relations and oil prices, with potential economic fallout if conflict erupts.
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Originally published on The Economist on 2/26/2026