Military strikes? A peace agreement? Trump opts for status quo in Iran
WASHINGTON — In the face of voter resentment over the Iran war, President Donald Trump said it "won't be necessary" to escalate the monthslong conflict that caused gas prices to spike and put his Pentagon chief in the congressional crosshairs. "Iran, militarily, is effectively over. We're just keeping it the status quo," Trump declared at a surprise news conference on Nov. 9. Trump said in the lead-up to the midterms that he faced a " big decision " on whether to resume large-scale strikes or make a peace agreement. But with his war partner, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , at risk of losing power amid negotiations over forming a new government, Republicans about to surrender their majority in Congress and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth facing impeachment , Trump signaled in recent days that he intends to follow a third track for now: maintain the status quo. The U.S. military can continue escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said in a " 60 Minutes " interview taped on Nov. 6 , arguing that unspecified countries in the region would help cover the costs. The Trump administration said the strikes it has conducted in recent days on Qeshm Island
