Summary
- Trump discussed the situation in the Middle East with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the US reviews a resumption of military operations and renewed airstrikes on Iran.
- Analysis suggests the Middle East war is pushing up fuel prices, weighing on Republican support and voter turnout ahead of the US midterm elections.
- The US push toward renewed airstrikes on Iran, combined with Israel’s political uncertainty, is keeping uncertainty elevated across the Middle East.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
President Donald Trump held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the US prepares to resume military operations against Iran.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Nov. 1 that Trump and Netanyahu discussed the situation in the Middle East earlier that morning. The call came as Washington considers restarting airstrikes on Iran.
Trump had earlier met at the White House with the US military’s top commanders to discuss options for resuming a large-scale military operation against Iran, the report said. The timing of any attack and the scale of the operation were not disclosed.
The call took place as the political burden of a war with Iran grows ahead of the US midterm elections. Rising fuel prices tied to the Middle East conflict are seen hurting Republican support and voter turnout.
Trump is focused on boosting turnout among Republican voters ahead of the midterms. Whether the US resumes military operations against Iran has emerged as a key variable in assessing Washington’s Middle East policy after the election.
Israel is also facing political uncertainty after its recent general election failed to produce a clear winner. Camps opposed to Netanyahu had hoped for a decisive victory, but neither side is projected to win the majority needed to form a coalition government.
As a result, negotiations over forming Israel’s next government could continue for several weeks or even months. The prospect of renewed US airstrikes on Iran, combined with Israel’s political deadlock, is sustaining uncertainty across the Middle East.
