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.

It was previously 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.