- President Donald Trump says renewed US-Iran fighting will not last long.
- Trump's senior aides are pushing to prevent the Iran war from escalating before the November congressional midterm elections, hoping to limit Republican losses at the polls, Reuters news agency reports.
- Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Ross Harrison tells Al Jazeera that US attacks against Iran have had no real positive strategic effect for the United States or, frankly, for the Iranian people.
- Harrison said there had been confusion between actions taken and damage inflicted upon Iran – which has been substantial – and actually getting Iran to some kind of political change that the United States wants.
- He said President Trump appeared to have bought into the notion that just one more turn of the screwdriver and the Iranian regime will either collapse or capitulate.
- Harrison noted that Iran's strategy is to deny Washington its political objective of either regime collapse or capitulation.
- Four people familiar with the discussions told Reuters that White House officials may consider ramping up military action after the elections, though a return to full-scale war is not likely.
- A White House official stated, “We are keeping the pressure on Iran,” adding, “But November is a priority.”
- The war is unpopular with voters, with 63 percent of the US public disapproving and only 31 percent approving, according to a late August Reuters/Ipsos poll.
President Trump has indicated that the renewed fighting with Iran will not be prolonged, stating, "I don't think too long" regarding the bombing campaign. As tensions escalate, Trump's senior aides are focused on preventing further escalation before the November midterm elections, where a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 63% of voters disapprove of the ongoing war.2
The US military has conducted multiple strikes targeting Iranian radar systems and mine-laying capabilities, with Trump asserting, "We took out all of the new equipment that they tried to build along the Strait of Hormuz". In response, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks on US bases across the Middle East, continuing a pattern seen throughout the six-month conflict.
Despite the ongoing military actions, White House officials are reportedly considering ramping up military action post-elections, although a full-scale war is deemed unlikely. "We are keeping the pressure on Iran," a White House official stated, emphasizing that November is a priority.7
The conflict has drawn significant public disapproval, with only 31% approval among voters, raising concerns for Republican candidates as they approach the midterms. Meanwhile, the US is extending troop deployments in the region to maintain a presence of 50,000 personnel, providing Trump with flexibility on military options.
Iran has condemned US actions, claiming civilian casualties from a recent strike, with the Iranian Red Crescent reporting four deaths and 67 injuries from a wedding ceremony hit by US attacks. Iran's Foreign Ministry has called for regional countries to cease allowing the US to use their territories for military operations.
“A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 63% of Americans disapprove of the war, with only 31% approving. White House officials may consider ramping up military action after the elections, though a return to full-scale war is not likely.”
