Donald Trump with Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan (L) (Sarah Silbiger/New York Times)

Amid administration in-fighting over military confrontation with Iran, officials are telling US media outlets that Donald Trump has checked the “hawks” pursuing regime change.

The officials told The New York Times of a Wednesday morning meeting in the White House Situation Room. They claimed that Trump told Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan that he does not want war with Iran.

Their message was bolstered by a statement that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had called Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Wednesday. The Gulf State laid the path to discussions for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, hosting back-channel talks between high-level US and Iranian officials including the Supreme Leader’s top aide Ali Akbar Velayati.

Officials also said Pompeo asked European officials for help in persuading Iran to “de-escalate” tensions.

The statement appeared to indicate that Pompeo was knocked back by talks in London and Brussels last week, as the Administration sought to raise pressure on Iran.

Just before Pompeo’s trip, National Security Advisor John Bolton — the leading proponent of regime change in Iran — had telegraphed moves of US air and naval forces to the Persian Gulf. He proclaimed intelligence showing an Iranian threats to American troops in the region.

But far from embracing the steps, senior UK and European officials expressed scepticism over the supposed intelligence. On Tuesday, the UK’s deputy commander in the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria said there was no escalation of threat from Iran or Iranian-backed militia, bringing a rebuke from US Central Command.

Pompeo also may have pulled back after talks in Sochi, Russia on Tuesday with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Moscow, one of the 5+1 Powers who signed the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, has firmly opposed any increase of American pressure on Tehran.

See also EA on CNN: Divisions Within Trump Administration Over Iran

Where is Trump?

Trump offered no direct response to the officials’ framing of the Wednesday meeting.

But, in line with his preference for photo-opportunity summits such as those with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, he has been talking of the possibility of a meeting with Iranian leaders.

Earlier this week Trump declared that he had offered phone numbers in Washington so the Iranians could get in touch.

Iran’s Supreme Leader said before and after the 2015 nuclear agreement that there will be no negotiations with the US on non-nuclear issues. He reiterated erlier this week that discussions under American pressure will be “poison”.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said from Japan on Thursday:

“No, there is no possibility for negotiations.

“This is the first time in history that a bully is telling everybody else, important countries, that ‘I’m going to punish you if you observe something that I do not like.”

Referring to the exapansion of US sanctions on Tehran, Zarif said, “This is economic terrorism, pure and simple.”

Asked yesterday if the US is going to war with Iran, Trump replied, “I hope not.”

What Now With Bolton?

Officials supporting Bolton’s hawkish line tried this week to bolster it with high-profile claims of modified Iranian freighters carrying missiles and other munitions.

The officials circulated photographs to media on Thursday claiming to show the preparations for attacks on US forces.

However, the attempt was hindered by no images of the missiles or any other information confirming their presence on the commercial vessels.

Trump initially tried to block discussion of the Administration’s division:

But yesterday he was forced into a defense of Bolton which appeared to push back the National Security Advisor at the same time.

A senior official opposed to Bolton’s line seized the opportunity, claiming that Trump said privately, “If it was up to John, we’d be in four wars now.”