Trump Weighs Renewed War With Iran After Midterms — SkimNews
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- Trump may believe he has little to lose from a return to war after the U.S. midterms and that a decisive defeat of Iran is still possible, offering a chance to rebuild his political image — though a munitions shortage would be a practical constraint.
- Trump administration could keep squeezing Iran through blockade and sanctions instead of striking, with the argument that there is no rush because Iran needs time to reconstitute its arsenal and advance its nuclear program.
- Iran is likely to wait on Washington in the short term but not indefinitely; its leaders have said a "no-war, no-peace" status quo is unacceptable.
- Iran's regime has been hardened by the early-war killing of the supreme leader and other top officials, and believes it can absorb more economic pain after years of unfulfilled predictions of economic collapse.
- Israel and the U.S. cannot be trusted by Tehran not to strike during negotiations, so Iran will demand substantial guarantees the Trump administration might be unwilling or unable to provide.
- U.S. public clearly does not want to go back to war, and the immediate pressure of the elections is over, narrowing the political case for renewed attacks.
Why it matters: The real limit on Trump's post-midterm options is material, not political: a munitions shortage constrains renewed attacks, while Iran's leaders believe they can absorb more economic pain and demand guarantees before talks. With the U.S. public opposed to more war, blockade and sanctions fit both sides' stated constraints better than another strike.
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