US President Donald Trump is becoming increasingly frustrated as the war in Iran enters its fifth month with no clear end in sight, according to administration officials and people close to the president.
They said Trump had expected the conflict to end within weeks, but the prolonged fighting has left him questioning whether a diplomatic breakthrough is still possible.
The war is also raising concerns within the White House, with some of Trump’s advisers warning that the conflict is dominating his presidency and hurting Republican prospects ahead of the midterm elections.
The conflict has also had a personal impact on the president and some of his senior advisers. According to people familiar with the matter, intelligence agencies have warned some top aides that Iran is seeking to kill them and advised them to stop using car services.
As the fighting continues, Trump has become less confident that Washington and Tehran can reach a diplomatic solution. People familiar with the matter said he has complained to advisers that it is difficult to identify who speaks for Iran’s leadership and that despite progress during negotiations, Iran continues its attacks.
The prolonged conflict has also contributed to higher prices, declining approval ratings for the president and the deaths of more than a dozen US servicemembers, adding to political pressure on the administration.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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