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Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior
But as you said, that was before he left Rohan. Wouldn't Sauron know where the palanir was being used? If he wanted the heir of the Throne of Gondor to perish, then wouldn't he attack Aragorn first?
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I probably could have phrased that better, in that Sauron really wasn't 'blindsided' by the Rohirrim.
It was just that Aragorn declaring himself induced Sauron to move before he'd intended, and caused him to focus on Minas Tirith.
Sauron's plan already had been to attack Minas Tirith, which he saw as his most dangerous obstacle. It was the nearest to his realm at any rate, and from a logistical and tactical standpoint would be the first place he should strike. If he could capture Gondor's capital early, it likely would be a very short war, and even the Heir of Isildur would be much less reduced as a threat to him.
Also, Sauron
had given thought to the Rohirrim, and knew they would probably come to the aid of Minas Tirith. That's why he had an army on the road in Anórien, to occupy and at least slow them down. With that in place, he disregarded that threat, and turned his attention to Minas Tirith, which he thought to quickly take and make a major step toward his victory.
Something else about the potential Sauron saw in the Ithil-stone is significant.
He didn't really need it for remote-viewing anyway, did he? Didn't the Eye fulfil the same function?
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It must also be considered that the Stones were only a small item in Sauron's vast designs and operations: a means of dominating and deluding two of his opponents....
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UT The Palantíri
So, the palantir in Sauron's possession really wasn't terribly important to him. At any rate, it doesn't seem to have been much use to him until Saruman and Denethor began to use their Stones.