Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu planned a fresh, more intense attack on Iran, but US President Donald Trump opposed the move ahead of the US midterm elections.
Trump opposed the plan ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, according to Financial Times. Trump’s approval rating fell to a record low of 31 per cent, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll published on October 20, as rising gasoline prices and concerns over the cost of living weighed on his popularity.
The report said it remained unclear whether the planned offensive would have involved direct US military participation or been carried out by Israel alone. One source suggested renewed strikes after the US and Israeli elections were possible, while another said the proposed operation could have been intended to pressure Tehran during negotiations. A renewed conflict with Iran could add to the economic and political pressure on Trump, potentially complicating Republican efforts to retain control of Congress. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff between Washington and Tehran remain uncertain, with disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and the blockade of Iranian ports complicating negotiations
The White House also ruled out US attacks on Iran before the polls, saying Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports and efforts to facilitate Gulf oil exports were succeeding.