— Ynet: Based on a Wall Street Journal report, Donald Trump, the U.S. president, is privately consulting with his senior advisers about ending the official six-month war with Iran.

Trump, who has shifted his approach toward economic pressure, said he prefers that the United States have “near-complete control” over the Strait of Hormuz; this comes as the United States has kept around 50,000 military personnel, 19 warships, and air defense systems deployed in the Middle East for 12 months in the region.

U.S. officials have warned that longer deployments of forces — including the 11-month presence of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford at sea and the possibility of the 82nd Airborne Division being deployed by 2027 — could put additional pressure on military forces and affect the chances of Republicans in the November midterm elections.