Following the midterm congressional elections in which Republicans suffered defeats, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has failed to formulate a unified course of action regarding Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing government sources. According to the publication, two opposing factions have formed within the cabinet: some officials are pushing the president to launch new strikes against Iran followed by a transition to a peaceful settlement to conclude the conflict before his presidential term expires, while others insist that Trump should accept the losses incurred and wind down the military operation. As WSJ notes, this situation highlights a deepening split within the administration amid Republican electoral setbacks.
Two Strategies: Escalation for Peace or Winding Down the Operation
According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, proponents of continued strikes view escalation as a pressure tool to achieve a ceasefire on terms favorable to Washington and exit the war before the end of the president's term. The opposing group, conversely, believes that further continuation of hostilities is counterproductive and that the administration needs to lock in the current outcome and begin winding down the operation. Both scenarios, the publication assesses, reflect a lack of a coherent strategy and growing pressure within the ruling team following the elections.
Vance Publicly Blames the War for Republican Defeat
On November 4, U.S. Vice President JD Vance called the war with Iran the cause of the crushing Republican defeat in the midterms. The Wall Street Journal emphasizes that this statement marked a rare moment of public distancing from the president, to whom Vance owes his political career, and indicates that the vice president had opposed the war from the very beginning despite repeated public statements in its support. On the same day, according to the publication, Donald Trump publicly confirmed that the conflict with Iran led to rising gasoline prices and caused the Republican defeat in the congressional midterms.
Tehran's Reaction and Fears of New Strikes
On November 4, Iran commented on the outcome of the U.S. elections, congratulating the Republicans on their defeat, Reuters reports. At the same time, according to the agency, Tehran fears that Donald Trump might exploit the pre-election context and launch new strikes on Iranian facilities. Thus, despite public statements from both sides about readiness for de-escalation, the risk of resuming hostilities remains significant, and the U.S. administration has still not formed a single decision on the matter.
Potential Personnel Reshuffles in the White House
In addition to the strategic dispute over continuing or winding down the operation, the election defeat could lead to personnel changes within the administration. According to CBS News, the White House is considering replacing Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth. Sources indicate that the Republican midterm failure has prompted a review of several key appointments, which could further intensify pressure on Trump's team regarding the Iran operation.
