WASHINGTON, October 8. /TASS/. The White House has instructed the Pentagon to develop options for strikes on Iranian targets that could be carried out before the midterm congressional elections scheduled for November 3, The Atlantic reported, citing sources.
According to the magazine, no final decision has been made yet, but President Donald Trump may order strikes before Election Day. The sources noted that the scope and targets of potential strikes, as well as whether to carry them out at all, are still under discussion. In recent weeks, the Pentagon has presented the president with options to resume military operations after the elections, including strikes against Iran’s energy facilities. According to the magazine, the US leader wants to lower gas prices and demonstrate progress in the conflict before the elections.
However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which primarily operates in the Middle East and North Africa, acknowledged that limited strikes alone will not force Iran to negotiate, restore shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, or lower gas prices before Election Day. However, supporters of the strikes believe that an attack would demonstrate Trump's strength, which could help the Republicans in the upcoming election, The Atlantic emphasized. This operation could be followed by large-scale military action after the midterm elections. According to Trump, the eight-month-long conflict could resume then. Sources say the president has made it clear to his aides that he is ready to launch a new strike against Iran. However, his advisers believe the right moment will come after the midterm elections rather than before.
It was assumed that the US would not launch strikes against Iran before November 3 to avoid reminding voters of a conflict undermining the Republican Party’s standing nationwide. The magazine noted that an attack would endanger the lives of nearly 50,000 US servicemen in the region, as well as allies in the Persian Gulf, at risk and would further deplete American arsenals. Many of the president’s supporters want Washington to withdraw from the war in order to curb rising inflation at home. However, a strike would most likely have the opposite effect, The Atlantic pointed out. According to the US Energy Information Administration, oil prices generally rise when Washington resumes strikes after a hiatus.