Washington: A complex tug of war inside the White House is troubling America. President Donald Trump’s changing public statements amid the Iran war have left allies debating when and how to declare victory as the conflict spreads across the Middle East.Some officials and advisers are warning Trump that rising gasoline prices could come at a political cost, while others are pressuring him to continue an aggressive stance against Iran, according to interviews with a Trump adviser and others familiar with the talks. His comments offer a previously untapped glimpse inside White House decision-making as it adjusts its approach to the largest US military operation since the 2003 Iraq War.Economic advisers and officials, including the Treasury Department and the National Economic Council, have warned Trump that oil shocks and rising prices could rapidly erode already weak domestic support for the war, the adviser said. Political advisers, including chief of staff Susie Wills and her deputy, James Blair, are making similar arguments, the sources said.More hawkish voices urging Trump to maintain military pressure on Iran include Republican lawmakers such as U.S. senators Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton and media commentators such as Mark Levin, according to people familiar with the matter. They argue that the United States should prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and respond forcefully to attacks on American troops and shipping.The third force comes from Trump’s populist base and people like strategist Steve Bannon and television personality Tucker Carlson, who are publicly and privately pressuring him and his top aides to avoid getting drawn into another conflict.Asked for comment, White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said: “This story is based on gossip and speculation from unnamed sources who have not even been in the room for any discussion with President Trump.” reuters