Trump Promotes an Electoral Victory Over Iran and an Imminent Agreement
The U.S. president says he will announce a complete victory in the war against Iran within the next two weeks in an effort to curb domestic criticism related to the conflict’s repercussions just months before the midterm elections.
U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that his administration is currently engaged in negotiations with Iran that could result in an agreement within the coming days, stating that the Iranians are seeking to reach “a very good deal.” His remarks come amid renewed regional tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv, ongoing American efforts to contain the escalation, and opinion polls indicating an unprecedented decline in both the president’s popularity and that of the Republican Party only months before the midterm elections scheduled for next November. This suggests that Trump’s statements cannot be separated from the broader electoral contest between Republicans and Democrats.
Speaking by telephone on Monday during a campaign rally held in support of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in South Carolina, Trump stated that efforts to reach an agreement with Iran are “going very well” and that a deal is now imminent, adding that “it could happen within two or three days.”
This is not the first time the U.S. president has spoken of an imminent agreement with Tehran, only for renewed military escalation to push the region toward the brink of a broader conflict. This time, however, his remarks appear to be more closely tied to electoral considerations.
He added, “We are a very strong team, and I believe we are winning this war. When we announce complete victory within the next two weeks, it will be a real victory,” asserting that the Iranians “are ready to give us everything,” including guarantees that they will not possess a nuclear weapon.
He also argued that oil prices would decline once the “complete victory” over Iran is announced.
Many observers believe that the continuation of the war with Iran and its economic consequences threaten Republican prospects in the congressional midterm elections, as the costs of the conflict and rising energy prices have become a growing source of voter dissatisfaction. Trump’s declining approval ratings and increasing criticism from within the Republican Party itself have also raised concerns that the party could lose its congressional majority, particularly if the military confrontation continues or efforts to achieve a lasting settlement with Tehran falter. Analysts believe the upcoming elections could become an indirect referendum on the White House’s management of the war and its economic and security consequences.
For his part, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance acknowledged the existence of disagreements between Washington and Tel Aviv on certain issues, while stressing that recent developments in the region have opened a new window of opportunity for reaching a lasting understanding regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
In an interview with Fox News, he explained that the Trump administration believes the prospects for a long-term agreement with Tehran remain viable. He emphasized that the success of any future agreement will depend not only on its written provisions but also on the ability of all parties to verify compliance with its commitments in practice.
He noted that previous experience revealed significant shortcomings in the earlier nuclear agreement, particularly the lack of sufficient monitoring mechanisms to prevent Iran from approaching military nuclear capabilities. He affirmed that the United States would place special emphasis on verification and monitoring measures should a new agreement be reached.
Regarding the ongoing negotiations, the vice president stated that current indications suggest Tehran does not view continued military confrontation as serving its interests. According to him, Iran is engaging seriously in the diplomatic track and presenting proposals worthy of consideration. He added that securing an agreement that is both enforceable and verifiable would represent a significant achievement for the United States and its citizens.
The region witnessed a new round of escalation on Sunday and Monday following Israel’s bombardment of the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
Despite Iranian warnings, Tel Aviv reignited tensions by launching a strike on the southern suburb, prompting Tehran to respond with waves of missile attacks against Israel. Tel Aviv subsequently announced that its fighter jets had struck military targets in western and central Iran.
On Sunday, Trump called on both Israel and Iran to immediately cease hostilities, warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against expanding the attack on Iran.
On Monday, Tehran announced the suspension of its military operations “after delivering a painful response to the enemy,” followed by a similar announcement from Netanyahu after a telephone conversation with the U.S. president.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, to which Iran responded with attacks against Israel and what it described as “American interests” in several Arab countries, before a temporary ceasefire was reached on April 8.
