Trump advisers warn his political legacy could be permanently defined by the Iran war launched alongside Israel in February

Advisers inside and outside the White House are warning U.S. President Donald Trump that his political legacy could become permanently tied to the war against Iran, which the United States launched alongside Israel in February, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The warnings come as the conflict enters its ninth month without a decisive outcome, while rising energy prices and Republican losses in the November 3 midterm elections have intensified scrutiny of the administration’s handling of the war.

According to the newspaper, some of Trump’s allies believe the prolonged conflict has become a defining political liability, threatening to overshadow other achievements of his presidency. The concern extends beyond the immediate election results to how his second term will ultimately be remembered.

The war has also complicated Trump’s efforts to present himself as a president capable of resolving international conflicts. His administration has defended military action against Iran as necessary to address the country’s nuclear program, but the absence of a settlement has raised questions among advisers about the campaign’s long-term consequences.

The warnings reflect growing concern within Trump’s political circle that the conflict’s economic and political costs could continue to accumulate unless Washington secures an outcome that the administration can present as a success.