President Donald Trump has put the Iran war in a holding pattern for the next 24 days, until the midterm elections are over.
Fine, but he needs to be absolutely ready to bring out the big guns after that — and then not just threaten, but actually resume major strikes, if necessary.
Yes, Team Trump’s economic noose has been increasingly “asphyxiating” the country.
Iran’s inflation is at its highest since World War II. Its oil loadings (mostly for exports) hit zero, the first time this has happened since 1979, in September.
The head of its economic branch of its security forces, Hussein Rahimi, reportedly recently threatened to jail people for merely reporting on foreign-exchange prices for the country’s rial.
Yet the regime is clearly willing to endure enormous pain to maintain its illusory prospect of victory.
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And while outflows from the Gulf returned to pre-war levels in September, they began to fall recently after Iran ramped up strikes on shipping.
Trump has said he is prepping for major hits on Iran after the elections.
And he struck the right tone Wednesday when he said a deal with Iran “isn’t really something that I want to do.”
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Why would he? Iran has shown repeatedly it can’t keep its word.
Yet Trump added that Iran is “willing to offer us anything to stop,” and special envoy Steve Witkoff, who’s negotiating the deal, is “doing very well.”
Here’s Trump’s dilemma: Absent an enforceable, airtight agreement that eliminates Iran’s nuke and missile programs and its claims over the Strait of Hormuz, the United States may not be able to wait until Iran’s ailing economy brings down the regime.
Not with Iran’s continuing aggression.
The regime mustn’t be allowed even to pretend it controls the Strait, since that in itself will depress shipping and keep oil prices high.
Once the midterms are over, there’ll be no political reason for Trump to hold back.
He’ll be able to end this sorry saga, once and for all. Cross your fingers.