A number of US President Donald Trump's advisers have urged him to seek a plan to exit the war with Iran, amid rising oil prices and concerns that a protracted conflict could have negative political consequences. The report The Wall Street Journal.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said the military mission had largely achieved its objectives. He did not give a clear timeline for ending the war against Iran, saying only that the operation would be over "very soon."
Some Trump administration officials have said that as long as Tehran continues to attack countries in the region and Israel continues to seek to strike Iranian targets, the United States is unlikely to be able to quickly exit the conflict.
One source also noted that Trump will not stop fighting until he can claim a convincing victory, especially given the US military superiority.
In addition, several people familiar with the president's thinking said he was sometimes surprised that Tehran did not surrender, despite the ongoing joint US-Israeli operation.
Why Trump is being called upon to end the war
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump has made controversial statements about the war in recent days.
In particular, last week he said that he wanted "unconditional surrender" of Iran and did not rule out the possibility of sending ground troops to the country. At the same time, in an interview with The New York Times, he said that he was far from making such a decision.
On Monday, Trump again spoke about a possible quick end to the war, but at the same time added that the US could go further, emphasizing: "we will go further."
In addition, the president has publicly hinted and told aides in private conversations that he would support the elimination of Ali Khamenei Jr. — Iran's new supreme leader — if he is not willing to comply with US demands.
All of these comments came against the backdrop of a sharp rise and then fall in oil prices, which has heightened concerns among Trump's allies about the economic costs and political consequences of the war.
According to sources, in recent days, some of the president's advisers have urged him to formulate a clear plan for the US exit from the war and demonstrate that the military has largely achieved its goals.
While many of the president's conservative electorate still support the initial operation, some advisers privately express concerns that a protracted war could undermine that support.
According to sources, Trump was also briefed on the results of polls on the war, which show that a majority of Americans oppose the conflict.
In addition, the publication notes that the president's team has concluded in recent days that a more aggressive communications campaign is needed to convince the public of the need for war, as many consumers are already facing rising gasoline prices.
Some of the president's advisers have also watched with alarm as oil prices rose above $100 a barrel. They said several Republicans have called the White House to express concern about the situation ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
