Trump says he has no regrets about starting the Iran war as U.S. dials up economic pressure - CNBC

**Trump Says He Has No Regrets About Starting the Iran Conflict as U.S. Ramps Up Economic Pressure**

Former President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday that he bears no remorse for the decision to engage militarily with Iran in early 2024, even as the Biden administration escalates sanctions and other economic levers against Tehran. Speaking at a private gathering of supporters in Florida, Trump told reporters, “I did what was necessary, and I would do it again. No regrets.” His comments came just hours after the Treasury Department announced a new round of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports, banking sector, and key officials, a move designed to intensify pressure after a series of missile exchanges and drone attacks that have kept the two nations in a state of heightened tension.

The remarks have sparked renewed debate among Republican strategists about the political fallout ahead of the 2024 midterm elections. A recent Wall Street Journal report noted that several of Trump’s top advisers are confronting the possibility that the Iran conflict could extend through the remainder of his term, potentially jeopardizing the GOP’s electoral prospects in swing districts where voters are wary of foreign entanglements. Meanwhile, media outlets ranging from *The Hindu* to Al Jazeera have highlighted how the war’s “midterm problem” could force Republican candidates to balance national‑security rhetoric with concerns about economic instability and rising energy prices that accompany the sanctions regime.

Despite the controversy, Trump remains defiant, suggesting that any de‑escalation will likely wait until after the midterms. In a separate interview cited by *ThePrint*, he warned that continued U.S. pressure could lead to further military actions, even naming a remote region he dubbed “Pickaxe Mountain” as a potential future target if diplomatic channels fail. As Congress prepares to vote on additional funding for the ongoing operations, both parties face the challenge of navigating a conflict that has already reshaped regional dynamics and now threatens to dominate the domestic political narrative for months to come.