Israeli journalist Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom) reports that President Trump's decision to back down on Iran, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, was driven by warnings that rising fuel prices would guarantee a loss in the autumn midterm elections, alongside economic forecasts of a global recession or even a Great Depression-style collapse unless the Hormuz blockade was lifted.
Israeli journalist Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom) reported Wednesday evening that US President Donald Trump's decision to effectively capitulate to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz was driven by two domestic and economic pressures, according to sources he cited. First, advisor Susie Wiles warned Trump that rising fuel prices would guarantee a loss in the autumn midterm elections. Second, economists and oil industry figures predicted the blockade would trigger a global recession or even a collapse comparable to the Great Depression. The report reinforces a picture that The Zioneer has been tracking: over the past week, Washington Post analysis, market reactions, and Israeli intelligence assessments have all pointed to economic pressure forcing a Trump policy reversal on Iran. The White House has not commented on Kahana's account. The claims remain attributed to a single Israeli journalist's sources and await independent confirmation or denial.
2 developments
- DevelopingIsrael Hayom: Trump pushing through MOU with Iran despite Israeli reservations
- DevelopingWashington Post: Trump forced to back down on Iran, settle for Hormuz reopening
- DevelopingNoam Amir (Channel 14) argues Trump folded on Iran, reversed course on oil prices
- DevelopingAriel Kahana: Gut feeling predicts Trump will 'open the gates of hell' on Iran, regime to fall
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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