WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not regret having entered into war against Iran, despite the potential impact the conflict could have on the U.S. midterm elections in November.
“I don’t believe in the word ‘regret’. We can always question ourselves a little,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, when asked if he would regret going to war with Iran due to the impact it may have on the elections.
“If I had to do everything again, I would do exactly the same,” Trump declared in the interview aired on Thursday on the program “The Ingraham Angle.”
Trump rejected suggestions that some of his supporters were upset and demoralized by the war.
“I don’t think they are demoralized. I think they are very proud of the fact that I am not allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
Trump reiterated his view that the war would end immediately after the midterm elections.
“It ends right after the election,” he said in the interview. He made similar comments on Wednesday, claiming Tehran was trying to influence the elections that would determine whether Trump’s Republican Party would maintain control of Congress.
The rise in oil and natural gas prices due to the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran has become an important issue for Republicans in the final stretch to the elections.
The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, and Iran responded with its own attacks on Israel and Gulf countries hosting American bases. The U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon killed thousands of people and displaced millions.
Trump cited the weakening of Iran’s nuclear capabilities as one of his war aims. Iran does not possess nuclear weapons and says its uranium enrichment program has peaceful purposes. The United States possesses nuclear weapons.
