Khaberni - Two U.S. officials and an informed person said that American intelligence agencies are studying Iran's reaction if President Donald Trump declares a unilateral victory in the two-month-old war, which has become a political burden for the White House.
Intelligence agencies are analyzing this issue along with other issues at the request of senior administration officials. Sources indicated that the goal is to understand the implications of Trump's potential withdrawal from a conflict some officials and advisors fear could result in significant losses for the Republicans in the mid-term elections later this year.
While no decision has been made yet, and Trump can easily resume military operations, a rapid de-escalation could alleviate political pressure on the president, even if it would strengthen Iran's influence, potentially allowing it to rebuild its nuclear and missile programs and threaten U.S. allies in the region.
It is not yet clear when the intelligence agencies will complete their work, but they have previously analyzed the potential response of Iranian leaders to a U.S. victory declaration.
One source said that in the days following the initial bombing campaign in February, intelligence agencies assessed that if Trump declared victory and the United States withdrew its forces from the region, Iran would likely see that as a victory.
If Trump says that the United States has won while maintaining a heavy military presence, the source suggested that Iran might see that as a negotiating tactic, not necessarily a way to end the war.
The White House spokeswoman, Anna Kelly, said the United States is still engaging with the Iranians regarding negotiations, and will not "rush into a bad deal".
She added: "The president will only sign a deal that puts the national security of the United States first, and he has clearly stated that Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon."
