US weighs option of ending war with Iran

WASHINGTON (MNTV) — The U.S. intelligence community is assessing, at the request of the White House, the consequences of a possible unilateral declaration ending the war with Iran, Reuters reported Tuesday.

Citing two U.S. officials and a person familiar with the matter, the report said intelligence agencies are analyzing how Iran might respond if Donald Trump were to declare a unilateral victory.

The review aims to clarify the implications of a potential U.S. pullback from a conflict that some officials and advisers fear could contribute to significant Republican losses in the upcoming midterm elections, according to Reuters.

The elections, scheduled for November, are widely seen by observers as challenging for the ruling Republican Party, driven in part by public dissatisfaction with the military campaign against Iran and rising fuel prices at home.

No final decision has been made, and Trump could still opt to intensify the military campaign. However, Reuters reported that a rapid de-escalation might ease political pressure on the president, even if it risks strengthening Iran’s strategic position and allows Tehran to rebuild elements of its nuclear and missile programs over time.

The report, citing three individuals familiar with recent White House discussions, said Trump is “keenly aware of the political price being paid by him and his party” for the war. A White House official described domestic pressure to end the conflict as “enormous.”

At the same time, U.S. officials say Washington continues to maintain “various military options” regarding Iran. But more expansive scenarios — including a potential ground invasion — now appear less likely than in previous weeks.

During a ceasefire that began April 8, Iran has reportedly recovered significant quantities of military equipment, including drones and missile launchers, from damaged facilities struck earlier in the war by U.S. and Israeli forces. As a result, the cost of resuming large-scale military operations for both countries could now be “arguably higher” than at the outset of the truce, Reuters reported.

The Central Intelligence Agency declined to address specific questions about the reported assessment. Liz Lyons, director of the agency’s public affairs office, told Reuters the CIA was not familiar with the intelligence community review. The office of Tulsi Gabbard also declined to comment.