Iran-Israel War: Amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, some of President Donald Trump’s advisers have recently suggested that he begin formulating a plan to withdraw the United States from the conflict with Iran, in light of rising oil prices and concerns that a prolonged conflict could trigger political backlash. They further claim that the military has already achieved most of its objectives.
These advisers believe that such a plan could help the administration present the conflict as a successful operation, while avoiding the risks associated with a prolonged war, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter.
While many of Trump’s conservative political supporters continue to back the initial military action against Iran, the report claims some advisers have privately raised concerns that prolonged fighting could slowly erode that backing.
Trump has also been briefed on polling data related to the war, according to the report.
Recent surveys, as cited in the report, show a majority of Americans are opposed to the conflict. Economic concerns have further added to the internal debate.
Some of Trump’s advisers have expressed alarm as oil prices surged above $100 a barrel, fearing disruptions to global energy supplies, the report states.
Republican lawmakers have also reportedly reached out to the administration, expressing anxiety about how the war might influence the upcoming midterm elections.
As his advisers weigh the political and strategic risks of a prolonged conflict, Trump has publicly suggested the war could be brief. Speaking to Republican lawmakers at his golf club near Miami on Monday, Trump characterised the US military action in the Middle East as a limited operation.
“We took a little excursion to the Middle East to get rid of some evil. And, I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short-term excursion," Trump remarked.
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At the same time, the President warned that the United States would escalate its response if Iran attempted to disrupt global oil supplies.
Iran has effectively blocked tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz, the shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the gateway to the Indian Ocean through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil is transported. Attacks on merchant ships near the strait have claimed the lives of at least seven sailors, according to the International Maritime Organisation.
In a social media post, Trump wrote, “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America twenty times harder than they have been hit thus far.”
While Trump has suggested that the war could be short-lived, Iranian officials have indicated they may be prepared for a prolonged conflict.
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Ali Mohammad Naini, a spokesperson for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, as reported by Iranian state media said, “Iran will determine when the war ends.”
The ongoing war has also coincided with a key leadership transition in Iran, with Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei being selected as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The younger Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric with close ties to the Revolutionary Guard, now holds final authority over major policies, including Iran’s contentious nuclear programme.
According to officials cited by the Associated Press, the war has already claimed more than 1,200 lives in Iran, hundreds in Lebanon, and several in Israel, while seven US service members have also died.
Meanwhile, Iran launched fresh attacks on Tuesday against Israel and Gulf Arab countries, continuing to apply pressure across the region in a war that has not only shaken the Middle East but has also driven oil prices up and sent shockwaves through global economies.