President Trump told TIME the U.S. could resume or intensify strikes on Iran after the midterm elections if negotiations fail. The war, now seven months old, has pushed up oil and gasoline prices, strained ammunition stocks and cost more than $25 billion.
Trump said the war against Iran could restart or escalate once the midterm elections pass, in a new interview with TIME. He argues continued military pressure may be necessary to stop Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program if talks don't produce an acceptable deal.
The conflict has already run far longer than Trump expected. He initially projected four to six weeks of fighting, but seven months later there is still no resolution. Trump defends the decision to launch the war, pointing to Iran's weakened position as proof the campaign met its core goals.
Oil flows and inflation take a hit
Iran's disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has driven energy prices higher, and gasoline prices in the US have risen substantially since the war began. Those higher oil prices have added to inflationary pressure already building from Trump's tariff policies.
That combination has complicated the Federal Reserve's policy decisions and contributed to higher interest rates and mortgage costs, tying developments in the Middle East directly to US financial conditions.
Ammunition stocks and casualties mount
Trump acknowledged that stocks of some types of ammunition have fallen after heavy use of missile interceptors and other equipment, though he says agreements with defense companies are already in place to replenish supplies. The war has cost the US more than $25 billion so far, and US military casualties have risen significantly since the operation began.
Friction with Netanyahu
Trump's relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has grown more complicated as the war has dragged on. Netanyahu initially pushed Trump toward military action against Iran, but the two have since disagreed over how to manage the conflict and bring it to a close.
He reportedly believes Israeli military actions, including strikes in Lebanon, have at times complicated US efforts to wind down the broader conflict, suggesting Washington and Jerusalem aren't fully aligned on the timing and scope of further operations.
Still, Trump isn't signaling a withdrawal. He wants an outcome that curbs Iran's nuclear program while letting the US scale back its involvement, but the longer the war continues, the heavier the economic and political costs become.
Source: TIME
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