The White House asked the Pentagon to prepare military strike options against Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. A Republican familiar with the talks said, "It would make the president look like he got a win and that gas prices would start going down." Officials remain divided on timing.
The White House has asked the Pentagon to prepare military options for strikes on Iran that could be carried out before the November 3 midterm elections, The Atlantic reported on Wednesday, citing two administration officials. US Central Command is developing the options, a US official told the magazine. The potential targets, scale of any operation and whether President Donald Trump would ultimately approve military action remain under discussion. The planning comes as the Trump administration faces pressure over high gasoline prices and the political fallout from the ongoing Iran conflict. Supporters of limited strikes believe military action could allow Trump to project strength and claim progress in the war before Americans vote. "It would make the president look like he got a win and that gas prices would start going down," a Republican familiar with the deliberations told The Atlantic. However, officials involved in the discussions acknowledge that limited strikes alone would not bring Tehran back to the negotiating table, reopen the Strait of Hormuz or bring down gasoline prices before Election Day. The Pentagon is also preparing options for operations after the elections, ranging from limited attacks to a broader campaign that could include strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure, according to the report. Some advisers to Trump favour waiting until after the midterms, amid concerns that renewed fighting could hurt Republican candidates, particularly if American troops are killed. A White House official told The Atlantic that Trump "has all options available at any time," but declined to comment on the timing of possible strikes. The discussions come as Republicans face mounting concerns over the political impact of the Iran war, which has contributed to higher fuel and other costs. Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate candidate in Texas, reportedly complained about the issue at a September donor meeting. "It's the war, it's gas prices, it's diesel," he said, according to an Axios report published Wednesday. The possibility of renewed US attacks also carries military risks. US forces and Gulf allies could face retaliation from Iran, while further operations could put additional pressure on American weapons stockpiles. Trump has previously indicated that he could wait until after the midterms before significantly escalating the conflict. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, he said he believed Washington and Tehran could reach a deal after the election. "I believe we'll make a deal right after the election because it doesn't make sense for them not to," he said. If no agreement were reached, Trump warned he would "annihilate the Islamic Republic". Trump also told Time Magazine on October 1 that the US could intensify its bombing campaign after the midterms, saying: "We've been stocking up for the last six months." Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran continue to communicate through intermediaries, although major differences remain over a ceasefire, the US blockade and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The nuclear issue remains another major obstacle. In a Reuters interview published by The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said any agreement would require concrete reductions in Iran's enrichment capacity. An Iranian official, however, said Washington's demands conflicted with Tehran's position and maintained that recognition of Iran's right to enrichment remained a red line.