Full Breakdown
Treasury Secretary Bessent Says End of Iran War Remains Uncertain
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Developments
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News’s Rachel Campos-Duffy that he cannot predict how the conflict with Iran will conclude as the fighting approaches its eighth month. He noted the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps appears financially strained and suggested the war could end in a variety of ways, from internal collapse to a negotiated settlement. The prolonged hostilities have kept the Strait of Hormuz closed, pushing up U.S. energy prices, and have become a focal point of the 2024 midterm campaigns, with Democrats criticizing Republican handling of the war.
Background & Context
The war began eight months ago after a series of escalations in the Persian Gulf. Public opinion in the United States has been broadly unfavorable, and the closure of the Hormuz waterway has disrupted a key artery for global oil shipments. Former President Donald Trump previously predicted a short conflict, later stating the fighting would cease “soon after the midterms” while pledging no new U.S. strikes before that election.
Data & Statistics
- U.S. military casualties: The Defense Department’s latest update lists 21 American service members dead, two of whom died outside combat (Army Maj. Sorffly Davius and an unidentified Navy sailor).
- Conflict duration: The war is nearing the eight-month milestone.
- Energy impact: The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to higher gasoline and fuel costs across the United States.
Official Statements & Responses
President Trump has reiterated that the United States will not launch new strikes against Iran before the midterms, while also suggesting the war will end shortly after the elections, though he offered no concrete plan.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don’t know what ‘crying uncle’ is in Farsi, but they’re going to be crying uncle. You know, they are collapsing. They can’t pay their soldiers. And Rachel, I don’t know how this ends. You never know how this ends,” — Scott Bessent, treasury secretary — Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary.