Trump Softens Stance on Iran After Midterm Defeat, Says 'There May Be No Need to Strike'

Author: Bu Shuqing, Wall Street Insight

As the Democratic Party achieved a significant victory in the U.S. midterm elections and the Republican Party faced a setback, signs of a softening military stance from the Trump administration towards Iran have emerged.

According to Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday, Trump acknowledged in a phone interview with The Wall Street Journal that the conflict with Iran did indeed affect the Republican Party's performance in this midterm election and dragged down his approval ratings, but he expressed no regrets, stating, "(If I could do it again) I would still do it."

Earlier, while discussing the U.S.-Iran war situation in a media interview, Trump remarked: "It seems we are getting everything we want." He then added, "I am ready, we are ready. If necessary, we can act at any time, but there may not be a need for that."

Trump's statement does not imply that the U.S. has abandoned military options. He still indicated that the U.S. is prepared to respond to escalations, but currently, there may not be a reason for further military action.

As Trump and his administration officials have recently adopted a somewhat milder tone regarding Iran, international oil prices have also significantly retreated from last week's highs.

Iran Warns U.S.: If Large-Scale Strikes Resume, It Will Face a "Nightmare"

Regarding the results of the U.S. midterm elections, Iran interpreted them as a signal from American voters opposing war.

Iranian Parliament Speaker and senior negotiator with the U.S., Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, stated that the U.S. midterm elections indicate that the American public has cast their votes "against war." He also warned that if the U.S. chooses to launch large-scale attacks against Iran again, it will face a "nightmare."

Despite the recent easing signals from the U.S., tensions between the U.S. and Iran have not fundamentally changed. Tehran has stated that Iran is ready to respond to new military strikes and will retaliate strongly.

Gulf Arab states are also remaining vigilant regarding the situation and urging Trump to allow more time for diplomatic negotiations. The UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are all regional allies of the U.S., and during the most intense phases of the war, these countries faced thousands of attacks from Iranian drones and missiles.

U.S.-Iran Negotiations Still Face Discrepancies, Strait of Hormuz Situation Affects Oil Market

On the diplomatic front, recent progress in U.S.-Iran negotiations has been limited. Qatar and Pakistan have been mediating, but there are still discrepancies on several key issues.

Iran seeks the U.S. to lift its maritime blockade on its ports, while Washington demands concessions from Tehran regarding nuclear activities.

Previous articles from Wall Street Insight mentioned that Qatari mediation is ongoing, but the discrepancies between the U.S. and Iran have yet to be bridged. Qatari mediators are expected to receive feedback from the U.S. and Iran on a new proposal within the next 36 hours.

This indicates that, although negotiations have not achieved substantial breakthroughs, diplomatic channels are still operational.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated this week that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has granted the government greater authority to advance peace negotiations. This may involve some topics previously regarded by Tehran as "non-negotiable," leaving some room for diplomatic resolution.

Nine-Month War Becomes Political and Economic Pressure for Trump

The U.S.-Iran war began in late February this year when the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iranian targets, killing several high-ranking officials, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In the early stages of the war, U.S. officials had expected the conflict to last at most four to six weeks, but Iran's sustained counterattack capabilities exceeded expectations. Tehran's retaliatory actions not only disrupted the Persian Gulf region but also impacted the entire Middle East situation.

Meanwhile, the rising energy costs resulting from the war are backfiring on the U.S. domestic economy. U.S. diesel prices have reached historic highs, and average gasoline prices have also surpassed $4 per gallon. The soaring fuel costs have intensified public dissatisfaction with the war.

This also constitutes the real dilemma Trump currently faces: on one hand, he insists that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons and retains the possibility of military escalation; on the other hand, the ongoing war and high energy prices are increasing domestic political pressure.

After the Democratic Party swept Congress in the midterm elections, Trump signaled a pause in military actions against Iran, drawing renewed attention to U.S.-Iran diplomatic negotiations. However, given the ongoing discrepancies regarding maritime blockades and nuclear issues, as well as Iran's continued military readiness, the situation remains far from genuine de-escalation.

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