Donald Trump is tired of the war with Iran, which has entered its fifth month with no clear path to an end, while the US president had thought the conflict would only last a few weeks.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump is in “revenge mode.” In a recent meeting in the Oval Office, he reportedly called Iranian leaders “scumbags” and “crazy,” among other insults. The statements are not surprising, as the US president has made similar comments publicly.
Meanwhile, new US forces are being sent to the Middle East, giving Trump more options if he decides to continue the military escalation. The president himself has declared that “the Iran problem is disappearing day by day,” and has called another meeting with his ministers and advisers to discuss the situation.
Despite leaving open the possibility of dialogue, saying that “the US is talking to Iran right now”, diplomatic efforts appear to be facing obstacles. According to the New York Times, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi, after a visit to the White House, proposed a ceasefire to Tehran during a visit to Iran, but the Iranian regime rejected it, stating that the problem is not the lack of mediators, but “the American approach”.
At the same time, Washington is trying to involve European countries to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key point for global energy trade.
There are concerns within the US administration that the conflict could negatively impact the midterm elections for Republicans, due to rising prices, falling support for Trump and losses of American soldiers. According to reports, the number of American casualties in this war was initially reported at 18, while the Pentagon later reduced it to 14, without providing a full explanation for the change.
Trump has been seeking to end the war for months. In April, he announced a ceasefire, after earlier threatening to destroy “an entire civilization.” In June, on his 80th birthday, he announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, after several brief pauses, the fighting has resumed.
In recent days, Trump has renewed threats to attack Iranian bridges and energy infrastructure. He has also criticized the Houthi rebels and warned that damage to commercial ships would be compensated through frozen Iranian assets abroad.
A senior US official said Trump believes that “the only thing Tehran understands is military force,” so the airstrikes are continuing. However, the president has so far been reluctant to approve a ground operation, which would likely result in American casualties and anger some of his supporters in the MAGA movement.
Despite tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump has agreed to meet him next week during Netanyahu's visit to Washington for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham.
Beyond the divisions within Trump's political camp, there is also a strategic concern: US aerial bombing is affecting US ammunition stocks. According to the Pentagon, restoring these stocks requires not only significant funding but also time, creating potential vulnerabilities in the event of another major conflict.
Meanwhile, Trump and his staff are concerned about the possibility of retaliatory attacks from Iran. His closest advisers have even been advised to avoid using services like Uber. During the NATO summit in Turkey, Israel warned of an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, although officials described it as ambitious but unrealistic.
According to Republican Congressman from Texas, Michael McCaul, after "Plan B", diplomacy, has failed, and in the absence of a "Plan C", Trump is returning to "Plan A", which is based on military operation.
