The Wall Street Journal has reported that some advisers to US President Donald Trump have privately urged him to seek a plan to end the war against Iran amid rising oil prices and fears that a prolonged conflict could trigger a political backlash.
Several well place sources told the WSJ that some of Trump’s advisers have been encouraging him in recent days to formulate a plan to withdraw the United States from the war and prove that the military has largely achieved its goals.
Another concern facing the Trump team is the huge cost of the US military campaign against Iran which has racked up an estimated $10.35 billion in costs in just 10 days – an average of more than $1 billion per day.
US forces spent an estimated $779 million in the first 24 hours alone as the operation began, Anadolu estimates.
However, Iran’s response to Trump’s various comments and threats do not indicate that they are on their knees.
Iran says it will be the one who will “determine” when the military actions against American and Israeli targets cease. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stressed that equations and the future status of the region are now in the hands of Tehran’s forces.
Although many in Trump’s conservative electorate still support the initial operation against Iran, some of the US president’s advisers have privately expressed concern that a prolonged war could sap that support.
According to the sources, public opinion polls published in recent days show that most Americans oppose the war. The rising oil price has also prompted major concerns for the mid-terms, as prices have risen to more than $100 per barrel.
Plans are now afoot within Trump’s team to launch a more aggressive communications plan to convince the public of the need for war as many consumers face rising gasoline prices, sources told WSJ. This comes after Trump made several inappropriate comments.
And to add pressure on the team they will have to deal with the killing of the 170 school girls on Day One as well as the sinking of an Iran warship on the cost of Sri Lanka in which 100 people drowned. (See X links)
While Trump promises a quick victory, experts warn that the war in the Middle East could drag on and escalate further. The coming weeks will not only decide the future of Iran, but also determine the balance of power in the “axis of evil”. What are the possible scenarios in the Middle East and what does it all mean for Ukraine.