Iran is scheming to 'freak Trump out' by going after his 'soft underbelly': expert

Faced with overwhelming odds combating US military might, one Middle East expert predicted the leadership of the war-torn country looks to be aiming to get to Donald Trump by going after one of his biggest weaknesses.

Appearing on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe,” New York Times columnist Tom Friedman claimed that, if there is one thing Donald Trump uses to gauge how he’s doing, it is the stock market and the surviving Iranian leadership knows that is one of his vulnerabilities.

Friedman made those comments when asked about Iran’s decision to lob missiles at its Middle Eastern neighbors, which has put the entire region under strain while the US conducts military operations.

‘’Let's talk about the region, a region you know so well,” co-host Jonathan Lemire prompted his guest. “You know, Iran is striking at moments. It feels indiscriminately. Other times targeted, like targeting civilian hotels in some of the major capitals there in the Gulf, striking potentially some energy infrastructure as well. But by doing so, what do you think happens next that's simply going to push, you know, the region more and more aligned with the US efforts or descend into that chaos you're talking about?”

“Jonathan, I think that Iran's strategy,” the columnist replied. “They think Trump's soft underbelly, because they've seen this before on tariffs, is the stock market and the economy.”

“And Iran, I think, wants to create as much chaos, turmoil in global oil markets and global financial markets,” he predicted. “They think that will freak Trump out and make him more vulnerable in negotiations.”

He added, “Drive the price of oil as high as you can, drive the Dow Jones Industrial Average down as far as you can, and hope that Trump, as in the past, will chicken out.”

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