White House seeks Iran strike options before midterms - Atlantic
- After months of intermittent fighting, the United States has refrained from launching strikes against Iran for several weeks. This period of relative calm comes as the midterm election campaign enters its final stage, fueling speculation that President Trump may prefer to maintain the pause until November 3 to avoid drawing voters’ attention to an unpopular war that has been weighing on Republican candidates across the country.
- However, that outcome is far from certain. According to two administration officials, the White House has instructed the Pentagon to prepare potential strike options against Iranian targets that could be carried out before the midterm elections. Administration officials told us that the planning highlights the president’s efforts to bring down gas prices and show tangible progress in the conflict before voters head to the polls.