A planned U.S. military strike on Iran was called off at the last minute after President Donald Trump personally intervened, U.S. and regional sources say, marking a dramatic pause in preparations for what had appeared to be imminent military action.

According to analysts and U.S. officials familiar with internal discussions, Trump told his national security team that any military operation against Iran would need to deliver a quick and decisive blow to the regime and avoid dragging the United States into a prolonged conflict. Trump’s advisers were unable to assure him that a strike would lead to a swift collapse of Tehran’s leadership, and concerns about a potentially aggressive Iranian response weighed heavily on the decision, sources told NBC News. 

“If he does something, he wants it to be definitive,” one person familiar with the talks said.

When asked on Wednesday whether military action was off the table for now, Trump said, “We’re going to watch and see what the process is,” adding that he had received “a very good statement by people that are aware of what’s going on,” without specifying details or naming the individuals. Analysts viewed the remarks as a sign of retreat from any imminent strike.

The potential attack had drawn heightened tension across the region. Iran briefly closed its airspace to commercial flights in response to rising strain with Washington, according to aviation advisories. 

In the Gulf, U.S. forces began evacuating nonessential personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar amid the rising threat environment, two U.S. military officials said. The Pentagon’s Central Command declined to comment. However, after Trump’s comments Wednesday afternoon, the Pentagon prepared to return troops to the base, with one U.S. official telling The New York Times that the president’s comments were offering “an off-ramp.” 

Long-range bombers stationed in the United States had reportedly been placed on alert for possible follow-up strikes, but those preparations were paused as of Wednesday afternoon, a U.S. official also told The New York Times.