President Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a record low of 33 percent as the US-Iran war drags into its seventh month, with fresh fighting overnight, a record-low Iranian currency, and oil prices above $90 a barrel deepening political pressure on Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Iran fired on US allies in the Gulf early Wednesday, retaliating for a night of American bombardment that Iranian officials say included a strike on a wedding party in Kuhestak in southern Iran. Tehran has not provided independent verification of casualties from that strike, and US officials have not confirmed the claim.
What Happened
The latest exchange follows the end of a monthlong lull in direct fighting after US forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island over the weekend, saying Iran was preparing to use them to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with strikes on American bases in Jordan, which were intercepted, before Wednesday’s renewed Gulf strikes. American military resources are stretched by the sustained deployment, while Iran’s economy continues to deteriorate.
Iran’s currency hit another record low Wednesday, with traders in Tehran exchanging 2.20 million rials for one US dollar, a roughly 10 percent jump from the previous week’s record. Brent crude surpassed $90 a barrel this week as fighting resumed, adding to a broader rise in oil prices that has persisted through much of the six-month conflict.
Latest Developments
A new poll cited by The Hill found Trump’s approval rating at 33 percent, a record low for his current term, with roughly two-thirds of respondents saying they disapprove of his handling of the Iran war. Trump downplayed the political fallout Wednesday, saying he did not expect the conflict to continue much longer and noting that while he is not on the ballot himself, he intends to campaign for Republican candidates in November.
Key Facts
- Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33 percent, a record low, with about two-thirds disapproving of his handling of the Iran war.
- Iran struck US allies in the Gulf early Wednesday in retaliation for American strikes, including an alleged hit on a wedding party that has not been independently confirmed.
- Iran’s currency fell to a record low of 2.20 million rials per US dollar, up roughly 10 percent from last week.
- Brent crude oil prices surpassed $90 a barrel this week as fighting resumed after a monthlong lull.
- The war has now lasted more than six months since it began on February 28.
Reactions
Trump told reporters Wednesday that continued Iranian nuclear ambitions would carry a price that is “primarily economic,” while reserving the right to take further military action if necessary. Democratic strategists have pointed to the war’s economic toll as evidence that Republicans have failed to deliver on promises to lower costs for voters, a message likely to feature heavily in midterm campaigning. Some Republican lawmakers have also grown split between those pushing for a swift end to the conflict and others who back continued military pressure on Tehran.
Background
The US and Israel launched military action against Iran on February 28, triggering a crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes. The International Monetary Fund has cut its global growth forecast in response to the disruption, and economists say the damage, while significant, has so far been less severe than initially feared. The conflict has also strained the traditional Republican advantage on national security and the economy in public polling, with voters increasingly citing high energy costs as a source of frustration.
Why It Matters
A war now stretching past six months, combined with a record-low approval rating and rising consumer costs, gives Democrats a clear economic argument heading into the midterms, when control of both chambers of Congress is at stake. The renewed fighting after a month of relative calm suggests the conflict remains far from resolution, undercutting earlier administration predictions that pressure on Iran would ease quickly once the Strait of Hormuz reopened.
What Happens Next
Attention will likely turn to whether Wednesday’s exchange marks a broader escalation or another temporary flare-up, as it remains unclear whether the wedding party strike allegation will be independently investigated. With midterm elections roughly two months away, both parties are expected to intensify their messaging around the war’s economic and human costs in the coming weeks.
Sources: NPR, The Hill, The Detroit News (AP).
