Uncertainty persists over Trump’s next move on Iran
The president, who acknowledged the war contributed to his party’s midterm rout, has kept his options open.
The world is anxiously awaiting President Donald Trump's next move on Iran after the GOP's midterms debacle. According to Nate Swanson, a former State Department representative on the second Trump administration's Iran negotiating team, the loss serves as a "validation" of Iran's strategy to inflict "pain" and "embarrassment" on Trump from the war. Swanson further noted that Iran has not been making concessions before, and it's unlikely they will now.
The United States currently holds a strong position, with control of the Strait of Hormuz and an Iranian economy in collapse. A White House official stated that Iran is eager for a settlement, as soon as possible, as per Trump's statement. The White House added that Trump "holds all the cards" and will make the decision best for the United States.
Trump has acknowledged that the war has contributed to his party's midterm losses. Charles Kupchan, a former Council on Foreign Relations member who served in the Obama administration, suggested that Trump is unlikely to resume full-scale war for now. He cited the "primal scream in the American electorate" over the conflict and its economic impact. However, Kupchan cautioned that an unpredictable Trump could still decide to "finish the job."
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