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United States President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated and skeptical about the prospects for a lasting peace as the war with Iran enters its fifth month with no end in sight, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The report, citing administration officials and people close to the president, said some advisers fear the prolonged conflict is weighing on Trump's presidency by fueling higher prices, eroding his approval ratings and hurting Republicans' prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.
A senior administration official said Trump believes the only thing Iran understands is military force and is in "revenge mode" against Tehran, leaving him with few options other than continuing the strikes.
The United States is deploying more troops and weapons to the Middle East as Trump weighs further military escalation despite concerns over costs and public support.
The war has also strained Trump's ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Trump reluctant to speak or meet with him, according to a senior administration official cited by the Journal.
The conflict has also taken a personal toll on Trump and his senior advisers, some of whom have been warned by intelligence agencies of Iranian assassination threats and advised to avoid using car services, according to people familiar with the matter.
While attending the NATO summit in Türkiye, Trump was briefed on Israeli intelligence about an alleged Iranian plot to kill him.
Although U.S. officials questioned the credibility of the intelligence, the briefing is said to have prompted Trump to return on an older Air Force One instead of the Qatari-gifted jet.
Trump was said to be furious after The New York Times disclosed the reason for the aircraft switch, calling the leak a security risk, while his administration sought to identify the source.
People familiar with the discussions said Trump also pushed for lower gasoline prices ahead of the midterm elections and was less concerned than some advisers about the war's political fallout.
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