Trump Weighs Iran Strikes After Midterms
On October 30, three senior Gulf Arab officials said the Trump administration had informed regional allies of a possible brief, forceful campaign against Iran starting as early as November 4. President Donald Trump has pledged not to launch new attacks before the midterm elections, and has not publicly confirmed plans for another strike. A White House official said the administration does not discuss sensitive military plans and that Trump is keeping options open to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Gulf allies are pressing for de-escalation over concern about Iran’s response. One official said some countries might resist allowing U.S. forces to launch attacks from bases on their territory. The United States has not struck Iran since September 1 and is blockading Iranian ports, while Iran has continued threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said Friday that the war would end “very soon,” and argued that Iran would not obtain a nuclear weapon. He has also said he wants Tehran to stop supporting militant groups. Former administration officials said Trump remains focused on the nuclear threat and believes further military action could lead to a deal or destroy Iran’s nuclear program.
The prospect of renewed strikes comes as support for the war has weakened. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 65 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of U.S. military action in Iran. Another poll found that Republican support for using force had fallen to 65 percent from 71 percent in March. Trump’s political base is divided over the conflict and the U.S. role abroad.
Trump’s Post-Election Iran Strike Plans Risk Wider War
On October 30, three senior Gulf Arab officials said the Trump administration had informed allies of a possible brief, forceful campaign against Iran starting as soon as November 4, the day after the midterms. Trump has pledged to hold off on new attacks until after the election, but the reported preparations point to a rapid return to military escalation.
Gulf governments are pushing for de-escalation because they fear Iran’s response. One official said some states might push back against U.S. use of bases in their countries. That concern underscores the danger of expanding a conflict that already threatens shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is blockading Iranian ports, and Iran continues to threaten shipping there.
Trump says the war will end soon and insists Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. Former administration officials say he believes another attack could produce a deal or destroy the nuclear program. But military force has not ended the confrontation, and the administration’s own briefings signal that strikes remain an option even as support wanes.
A recent Pew survey found 65 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of military action in Iran. Republican support for using force also fell to 65 percent, from 71 percent in March, in a poll. Pressing ahead after the election would disregard public unease and the Gulf allies’ warnings about retaliation.
Trump Keeps Pressure on Iran as Nuclear Threat Remains
On October 30, three senior Gulf Arab officials said the Trump administration had briefed regional allies about the possibility of a brief, intense campaign against Iran as early as November 4. Trump has promised to refrain from fresh attacks until after the midterm elections, and the White House says it will keep options open to ensure Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump said Friday that the war would end very soon and that Iran would not have a nuclear weapon. Former administration officials say the president is focused not only on Iran’s nuclear program but also on its support for militant groups. One said Trump believes a final attack could bring a deal or destroy the program.
The stakes extend beyond the nuclear issue: Iran has continued to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States is blockading Iranian ports. Gulf allies are urging de-escalation and worry about retaliation, with one official saying some might resist U.S. strikes launched from bases in their countries. Those concerns deserve attention, but they do not remove the threat Trump says he is confronting.
Public backing for the war has weakened. A recent Pew survey found 65 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of military action in Iran, and a separate poll put Republican support for using force at 65 percent, down from 71 percent in March. The division among voters makes the choice difficult, but leaving Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional activity unanswered carries its own risks.
Reported by MSNBC, The Daily Beast.
