— According to a Reuters report, senior Trump aides, including J.D. Vance, the vice president, and Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, are trying to prevent an escalation of the war with Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as they hope to avoid an increase in electoral losses for Republicans.

The strategy is coming under pressure as the United States and Iran have resumed their attacks again.

At present, the U.S. government intends to focus primarily on sanctions, economic pressure, and a blockade around the Strait of Hormuz in order to put Iran “under pressure” to accept concessions in any possible future negotiations.

A pause in the fighting would also allow the U.S. army to replenish critically depleted munitions stocks.

U.S. officials may consider more intense military attacks after the election, but no decision has been made yet on this, and a return to a full-scale war is not certain.