Iranian officials are leveraging rising US fuel prices and inflation as a political tool to criticize President Donald Trump ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The strategy aims to highlight the economic toll of the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel, potentially influencing voter sentiment. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker, has taken to social media to criticize US economic conditions and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In one post, he shared a news report showing annual inflation rising to 3.7% in September, alongside negative headlines about the US economy and a comic strip from the Road Runner cartoon.
Ghalibaf’s message to Bessent emphasized the rising inflation and living costs linked to the war, contradicting Bessent’s earlier claims about the economy. Days earlier, Ghalibaf had shared an image of a ghost-shaped bell curve, highlighting rising diesel prices and declining housing affordability and consumer confidence. Since the war began on February 28, Iran has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to higher energy prices. In the US, diesel prices stood at about $6.33 per gallon, while regular petrol averaged $4.33, up from below $3 before the conflict.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also addressed the American public in a letter, accusing Trump of lying about the war’s cost and the state of the US economy. The IRGC warned of a potential economic implosion, urging Americans to take control from what they described as corrupt politicians. The midterm elections are seen as a potential turning point, with Democrats challenging Trump’s ability to continue the war if they gain control of Congress. Some Iranian officials believe a Democratic victory could curb Trump’s war powers, while others argue little would change due to hawkish elements within the Democratic Party.
Sina Toossi, a senior non-resident fellow at the Center for International Policy, noted that Iran’s strategy focuses on increasing the political cost of the war for Trump, regardless of the election outcome. Iranian officials have also published articles in state-affiliated outlets stressing the war’s impact on oil prices and the US economy. The overall goal appears to be influencing American public opinion and highlighting the economic consequences of the conflict.