With no decisive resolution in sight to the war against Iran, US President Donald Trump is seeking to justify the continuation of military operations and heightened military readiness as the 3 November midterm elections approach.
His efforts come amid declining public support and growing opposition to the prolonged conflict, while questions persist over Washington’s ability to bring the confrontation to a conclusive end.
On Saturday, a former Pentagon official warned that the military stalemate with Iran could rapidly become the Middle East’s new normal, as Tehran continues using missiles, drones and regional proxies to keep its adversaries in a permanent state of uncertainty and insecurity.
Trump Invokes Alleged Protester Deaths to Defend His Position on Iran
Against a backdrop of falling popularity and mounting opposition to the war, Trump sought to draw attention to the Iranian government’s domestic conduct, claiming that 75,000 protesters had been killed by Iranian authorities over a period of less than seven months.
The figure was presented as a claim by the US president, without independent verification in the account.
Trump urged Americans and the international community to recognise what he described as the Iranian government’s brutality, calling it “truly evil”.
In a post published on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote:
“They continue killing protesters and anyone who stands in their way. I can only hope that the American people, and the entire world, realise how evil they are! 75,000 protesters have been killed in less than seven months.”
He also criticised the international community and the Democratic Party for what he portrayed as their indifference to events inside Iran.
“It’s shocking that the world, and the Democratic Party, don’t seem to care. Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and never will!” he added.
Trump’s remarks placed allegations of domestic repression in Iran alongside Washington’s longstanding position against Tehran acquiring nuclear weapons, as his administration continued to face questions over the duration and direction of the war.
Trump Accuses Iran of Manipulating Oil Prices Ahead of US Elections
The US president also accused Tehran of attempting to influence the American midterm elections by driving up global oil prices.
Trump alleged that Iran was manufacturing security incidents and deploying naval mines as part of a broader effort to create instability in energy markets.
“Iran is doing everything it can to raise oil prices ahead of the US midterm elections. They are even staging fake attacks, laying mines and resorting to other tactics, all while more oil is passing through the Strait of Hormuz than before the conflict began,” Trump wrote.
The allegations were made by Trump and were not independently substantiated in the account.
His comments introduced an electoral dimension to the continuing confrontation, linking Iran’s alleged activities in the Strait of Hormuz to the domestic political pressures facing his administration.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained central to Trump’s public arguments about the conflict, particularly concerning the movement of oil and the effect of regional instability on energy prices.
Trump Questions Whether Washington Should End the War Quickly
Despite defending the continued military confrontation and maintaining his accusations against Tehran, Trump indicated on Friday that the United States possessed the capability to end the war rapidly.
However, he questioned whether Washington should actively seek an immediate conclusion or instead allow the conflict to diminish gradually.
His remarks left unresolved the administration’s intended course of action, even as the approaching midterm elections intensified the political pressure surrounding the war.
The contrast between Trump’s insistence on confronting Iran and his suggestion that the conflict could be ended quickly reflected the uncertainty surrounding Washington’s next steps.
Meanwhile, the warning from the former Pentagon official raised the possibility that the existing military stalemate could persist, with Iran continuing to use its military capabilities and regional relationships to maintain pressure on its adversaries without a decisive resolution to the confrontation.
