The discussions inside the White House reflect competing priorities among economic, political and national security advisers as the United States and Israel continue military operations targeting Iran.

Officials involved in the internal discussions said there is no unified view on the desired end point of the conflict, prompting debate among Trump’s advisers over how long military pressure should be maintained.

Some national security hawks are urging the administration to sustain operations against Iran, arguing that continued pressure could weaken the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities and regional influence.

Other advisers are advocating a more limited campaign that would allow the president to declare victory quickly while avoiding a prolonged conflict that could expand across the region.Those differing views have contributed to fluctuations in Trump’s public remarks about the war’s trajectory and possible outcomes.

Members of the administration’s economic team have warned that the conflict could have domestic political consequences if energy prices rise significantly.

The war has already unsettled global energy markets, raising concerns within the administration about the potential for higher gasoline prices in the United States.

Officials familiar with the discussions said economic advisers have cautioned that sustained disruptions to oil supply routes in the Middle East could place additional pressure on consumers and financial markets.

Political advisers close to Trump have argued for a limited and swift operation, according to people familiar with the deliberations. They contend that a shorter campaign could reduce economic fallout while allowing the president to frame the military action as a strategic success.

The competing recommendations have produced what one person close to the discussions described as a complex internal debate over how the administration should define victory and manage the conflict’s political and economic implications.

As the war continues, the policy discussions within the White House are expected to remain fluid as officials monitor developments across the Middle East and assess the broader impact of the confrontation.

The U.S. Department of Justice said Asif Merchant was found guilty of murder-for-hire and attempting to carry out an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries following a trial in the Brooklyn federal court. Prosecutors said the plot involved efforts to recruit individuals in the United States to target prominent political leaders.Alleged retaliation plotFederal prosecutors said Merchant attempted to organize the assassination plan as retaliation for Washington’s 2020 drone strike that killed Soleimani during Trump’s first term in office. Investigators said Merchant tried to recruit people inside the United States to assist in the plan.

According to court filings, the alleged targets included Trump as well as then-President Joe Biden and former U.S. ambassador and Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley during the 2024 election cycle.The Justice Department said the plot was directed by Iranian authorities and linked to Iran’s elite security force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC holds extensive military, intelligence and economic influence within Iran.Defendant’s testimonyMerchant acknowledged during the trial that he had agreed to participate in the plan with members of the Revolutionary Guards but told the court he did so under duress. He testified that he feared for the safety of his family living in Tehran if he refused to cooperate.He said he was not ordered to assassinate a specific individual but claimed his Iranian handler referenced three potential targets during conversations in the Iranian capital.Tehran has previously denied accusations that it orchestrated assassination plots against current or former U.S. officials.Plot disrupted by informantU.S. law enforcement officials said the plan was thwarted before any attack could take place. The Justice Department said a person Merchant contacted in April 2024 to assist with the operation reported the approach to authorities and became a confidential informant.

Authorities subsequently monitored Merchant’s activities before arresting him later in 2024. He pleaded not guilty at the time of his arrest.The trial began last week, days before the United States and Israel launched a major military assault on Iran that has since expanded into one of the region’s largest conflicts in years.Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has said at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed and thousands wounded in the attacks. Iranian authorities have also reported the deaths of several senior figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.The case underscores long-running tensions between Washington and Tehran following the killing of Soleimani, a senior Iranian military commander widely seen as a key architect of Iran’s regional military strategy.