The US military campaign against Iran has been prolonged, and its economic and political pressure is increasing. The conflict, combined with huge daily military spending, soaring energy prices and growing discontent among voters, has now become a major challenge for the administration of President Donald Trump.
According to a report in the British daily The Telegraph , the daily US spending on ongoing military operations surrounding Iran has reached nearly $1 billion. According to analysts, the impact of this spending is gradually being reflected in the US economy and domestic politics.
Yam Sitaula, 56, who works at a gas station near Arlington, Virginia, said fuel prices have been rising almost every day for the past week, sometimes by 10 cents, sometimes more. Customers are often asking why prices are rising.
The gas station, a few miles from the White House, has also been adjusting prices regularly since the US attack on Iran. According to Sitoula, the station owner calls almost every day to ask for new prices. He believes that prices could rise by up to $1.50 in the future.
Analysts say fuel prices are rising as uncertainty over global oil supplies continues to weigh on the market. About 20 percent of global oil transport passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The market has been volatile since Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced they would close the vital waterway.
The daily costs of the US military presence in the Middle East are also rising rapidly. Some analysts say the total cost could approach $100 billion if the conflict drags on. This has also caused unease among some of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) supporters.
Opinion polls also show that the war is unpopular with American voters, especially at a time when the midterm elections are a major political test for Republicans in retaining control of Congress.
A gas station manager in the Capitol Hill area said that prices are rising in the international market due to fears of disruption of oil supplies due to the conflict in the Middle East. This is also having a direct impact on the US retail fuel market.
Meanwhile, discussions have also begun within the Republican Party about whether the Trump administration’s excessive focus on foreign policy and military issues poses political risks. There are fears that losing control of Congress could expose the administration to investigations, impeachment, or a legislative stalemate.
The administration is now discussing possible ways to control fuel prices, with some policymakers considering temporarily reducing or eliminating the federal gasoline tax.
Recent polls show that the cost of living is now the top concern for American voters. Less than 30 percent of more than 2,500 respondents to a Washington Post poll said they were on track to improve their finances, while 45 percent said food prices were getting out of hand.
According to experts, if the pressure of war spending and rising energy prices continue to rise together, it could become a significant political risk for the Trump administration.