US President Trump has warned that Iran may step up military actions ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, asserting that Tehran believes escalating tensions will damage the United States politically.
"They'll probably do a little bit extra before the election, thinking it's going to hurt us," Trump told supporters during a campaign rally in Tennessee, a long-standing Republican stronghold, just weeks before nationwide congressional voting begins.
"But we could end it really quick," Trump said, adding his administration has exercised restraint despite delivering severe blows to Tehran's naval capabilities.
"They don't know how nice I've been to them," he said, arguing that coalition forces have sunk 159 Iranian vessels since hostilities erupted in late February.
Musing over the strategic waterway, Trump remarked: "We're thinking about renaming it to the Trump Strait."
Midterm politics
The president previously suggested the war might conclude shortly after the November 3 midterms, where the seven-month conflict and resulting economic turbulence have surfaced as central campaign issues.
Although Trump himself is not on the ballot, he is travelling extensively to campaign for congressional Republicans striving to retain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Direct warfare commenced on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran.
Tehran retaliated with waves of ballistic missiles and drone strikes across the region while closing the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, driving up international energy prices as tanker flows effectively halted.
A framework agreement mediated by Pakistan and Qatar brought a brief suspension of hostilities in June to establish terms for comprehensive negotiations.
However, full implementation remains deadlocked amid acute disagreements over naval security and international navigation protocols through the strait.
