US President Donald Trump is privately weighing a potential declaration to end the Iran war ahead of November’s midterm elections, as military and economic pressures intensify. The White House emphasizes electoral calculations, while Iran demands significant concessions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump is privately considering declaring the end of the war with Iran ahead of the November midterm elections, according to reports from Moneycontrol and aa.com.tr. The White House has shifted focus from military action to economic sanctions, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent describing the strategy as economic asphyxiation
of Iran. Trump’s aides warn that further escalation could jeopardize Republican gains in the midterms, but the president reportedly favors maintaining pressure to force Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program or collapse.
Private Discussions and Electoral Calculations
Trump’s potential move to declare the Iran war over stems from private discussions with senior aides, as reported by Moneycontrol. A White House official told Reuters: We are keeping the pressure on Iran. But November is a priority,
highlighting the administration’s focus on preventing the conflict from dominating election coverage. The president’s advisors argue that escalating the war could cost Republicans critical victories in the Senate and House of Representatives, despite Trump’s insistence that his decisions are not guided by electoral consequences.
The White House has also considered ramping up military action after the November 3 vote, according to Moneycontrol. The Pentagon is maintaining 50,000 troops and 19 warships in the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, to provide operational flexibility
for future decisions. This posture contrasts with Trump’s public rhetoric, which has oscillated between claiming the Strait of Hormuz is “fully open” and vowing to hit them extremely hard
in upcoming weeks.
Military Posture and Strategic Flexibility
The US military’s extended deployments signal a prolonged engagement in the region, despite Trump’s private considerations about ending the war. aa.com.tr reports that the Pentagon is preparing for a conflict that could drag well into next year.
US forces are intercepting Iranian missiles, protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and blockading Iranian ports, according to Moneycontrol. The administration has also explored options like expanded airstrikes, ground operations to seize Iranian islands near Hormuz, and strikes on the Pickaxe Mountain site, which is linked to covert nuclear activity.
Trump’s military strategy has faced internal scrutiny. Aides warned that further escalation could harm Republican prospects, but the president reportedly favors maintaining economic pressure to eventually force Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program or collapse,
as Moneycontrol noted. The US launched Operation Economic Outcast last week, targeting Iran’s oil, shipping, aviation, gold, technology, and digital asset sectors, according to aa.com.tr.
Iran’s Conditions and Diplomatic Deadlock
Iran has set strict conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including a permanent end to the war, an end to US threats, and the lifting of sanctions. Economictimes reports that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, stated the strait would not reopen until the US corrects its behaviour.
The regime has also demanded the removal of sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and war reparations, according to Economictimes.
Diplomatic efforts with Oman to establish new maritime routes
are in their final stages, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that such agreements do not guarantee the strait’s reopening. An agreement on the routes may be reached, but reopening the strait is subject to a number of other conditions,
Araghchi told reporters, as Economictimes reported. The proposed temporary arrangement would allow ships to transit through routes near Iran and Oman without tolls, but it requires US cooperation to restart negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
The outcome hinges on Trump’s balance between electoral strategy and military objectives. While the White House prioritizes November’s midterms, Iran’s demands for concessions complicate any swift resolution. The Pentagon’s extended deployments suggest the conflict could persist well into next year, even if Trump formally declares the war over. Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council and international partners are pushing for a temporary maritime agreement, though its success depends on Tehran’s willingness to compromise.
Trump’s public statements remain contradictory. He has claimed the Strait of Hormuz is “fully open” while acknowledging the US has redirected 53 commercial vessels and disabled two, according to Economictimes. The administration’s focus on economic pressure, however, underscores a long-term strategy to force Iran’s compliance, even as the war enters its second month. With both sides entrenched, the path to resolution remains uncertain, and the November elections will likely shape the next phase of US policy.
