Across the world on Wednesday night, millions of people will tune in to watch Donald Trump deliver a primetime update on the war in Iran. Many will hope for some insight on how the war ends and what might come after.
The Trump administration has signalled there may be no big announcement, but many are wondering if his hastily-arranged remarks will mark the beginning of the end of the conflict or a potentially bloody escalation.
This ambiguity is, at least partly, by design. Trump often changes course or leaves his thinking a mystery to all but a small inner circle of supporters, which he has acknowledged leaves friend and foe alike wondering about his next move.
The president also knows that the address comes at a critical time in his presidency and amid mounting domestic pressure to find a way out of the conflict.
Poll after poll has shown that Americans have little appetite for a protracted conflict in Iran, particularly if it involves the prospect of US soldiers on Iranian soil.
A Reuters poll released this week found that two-thirds of Americans believe the US should work to swiftly wrap up its involvement in the war, even if the administration's stated military objectives are not fully accomplished.
Closer to home, many Americans are increasingly wary of higher prices at the petrol pump, which this week crossed the average of $4 a gallon for the first time in years. For a president who, pre-war, often pointed to lower petrol prices as a mark of success, this trend represents a challenge.
Imran Bayoumi, a geostrategy expert, noted that the deep domestic unpopularity of the war, coupled with economic fallout, poses challenges ahead of the midterm elections if the conflict continues.
Trump’s speech will primarily showcase military successes, such as degrading Iran's navy and missile capabilities. However, it remains unclear what any US exit from the conflict will entail.
He is expected to assert that the operation will conclude in two or three weeks. However, without clearly defined goals, many question what victory will look like, and his remarks will be scrutinized both domestically and internationally.
