As the countdown to the U.S. midterm elections begins, the war with Iran is emerging as a central issue in the campaign, amid the impact of rising gasoline and diesel prices on voters’ choices. At the same time, President Donald Trump’s rhetoric over the conflict has intensified, as the United States deploys a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East and diplomatic prospects continue to fade, although mediators are still clinging to a slim hope of persuading both sides to return to the negotiating table and avoid another round of escalation.
The mounting tensions were reflected in Trump’s request for his aides to examine options for resuming “major operations.” In a related development, Vice President J.D. Vance chaired a secret meeting at Camp David last week to discuss available options for dealing with the crises in Iran and Yemen. As the United States expands its military options and prepares for a new phase of escalation, the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt departed its home port in San Diego as part of a previously planned deployment. Meanwhile, the amphibious ready group led by the USS Makin Island, comprising three amphibious ships carrying personnel from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, set sail and is expected to reach the region by the end of October.
At campaign rallies held by Trump in support of Republican congressional candidates ahead of the November 3 elections, he has emphasized that the war will end shortly after the vote, meaning oil prices will rapidly fall to record lows. He has repeatedly said that Iran has been “decimated” and has “effectively abandoned” its nuclear ambitions, while simultaneously warning Tehran that the next step could come “the easy way or the hard way.”
The Iranian flag raised in Tehran (AFP).
However, a poll conducted by The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed widespread dissatisfaction among voters with Trump and the Republican Party, while Democrats gained ground in voters’ views of their handling of issues directly affecting everyday life, particularly the cost of living and healthcare.
Nevertheless, the U.S. president secured a significant gain by persuading the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations to release 100 million barrels of fuel, particularly diesel. The move helped curb the rise in global prices and spared his administration from having to consider banning diesel exports in an effort to lower prices domestically.
Another factor that helped contain the rise in prices was the increasing number of tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani route under the protection of the U.S. Navy. This prompted Iran in recent days to intensify its attacks on vessels in the strait. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also threatened to expand its target list to include vital interests across the region if Iran comes under U.S. attack.
The exchange of threats comes amid stalled diplomatic efforts. On Saturday, Washington announced the expulsion of Iranian diplomats from Iran’s mission to the United Nations, accusing them of exceeding the residency privileges granted to them to attend the UN General Assembly.
Meanwhile, Iran has also hardened its position. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the chief negotiator and speaker of Iran’s parliament, said that the Strait of Hormuz “will not be reopened unless Iran’s seven conditions, based on the memorandum of understanding, are met.” He added that the United States could no longer “stall to buy time.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that “if our enemies once again choose the path of military confrontation, our response will be stronger than before... But if they prefer the diplomatic path, we remain ready to reach an honorable and fair solution.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denied that the negotiations held in New York last month under Qatari mediation had addressed Iran’s nuclear program, as Washington had claimed.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Annahar.
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