Pezeshkian’s apology for the targeting of neighboring countries, along with the temporary leadership council’s approval to suspend the strikes, has raised questions about the council’s ability to control the IRGC overseeing military operations against the U.S. and "Israel."

As Iranian strikes expanded beyond U.S. bases in the Gulf and official threats of military retaliation mounted, questions intensified over whether the Gulf states might be drawn—against their will—into the fire of war.

Trump is weighing a major new strike on Iran after preliminary discussions between Washington and Tehran over limiting the country’s nuclear program and ballistic missile production failed to make progress.