Trump mulls his next Iran punches

Top aides to President Donald Trump are attempting to keep the Iran war from escalating before the November midterm elections, in an effort to prevent Republican electoral losses, according to four sources familiar with the discussions. However, the White House's strategy to avoid a full-scale conflict is facing challenges as the U.S. and Iran have been exchanging back-and-forth attacks overnight.

White House officials are considering ramping up military action after November 3, although any return to full-scale war is not guaranteed. The U.S. military says its latest strikes were in retaliation for recent attacks on American forces and marine traffic in the region. The administration is relying on economic pressure to force concessions in future negotiations, as months of military action have failed to achieve results.

White House officials say they are prioritizing the election as the top priority, hoping to keep the war mostly contained until then to avoid dominating the news during Trump's Republican campaign to defend thin majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives. However, the strategy looks increasingly difficult to execute due to rising tensions and both sides exchanging strikes.