The US may soon see the resumption of large-scale attacks against Iran in the coming weeks, as the country also prepares for the midterm elections in November.
What’s On the Table?
U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team pilot and commander, flies an F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 421st Fighter Generation Squadron during Naval Air Station Key West 2023 Southernmost Air Spectacular over Boca Chica Field in Key West, Florida, April 14, 2023. The F-35 demonstrated its capabilities during the airhshow, along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and other various performers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaitlyn Ergish)
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 13, 2025) Sailors transport an F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 onto an aircraft elevator aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is underway conducting carrier qualifications and routine operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kayleigh Tucker)
Reports indicate that sources close to President Donald Trump say he met with officials involved in the war effort at Camp David recently, where several options for resuming attacks on the Islamic state were presented to him.
The plans to return to large-scale attacks come as the president also campaigns hard for Republican candidates running in the midterm elections, which will happen on November 3.
US officials say that the Pentagon has relayed orders to US Central Command to wrap up preparations for resuming a military offensive against Iran.
Trump claims Iran has no bargaining power
Nothing is final at the moment, and no date has been set as to when attacks against the Muslim country are set to restart.
The president’s consideration of resuming the US military offensive likely reflects the reality that polls show Americans are dissatisfied with rapidly rising gas prices ahead of the upcoming elections.
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) successfully completes the third and final scheduled explosive event of Full Ship Shock Trials while underway in the Atlantic Ocean, Aug. 8, 2021. The U.S. Navy conducts shock trials of new ship designs using live explosives to confirm that our warships can continue to meet demanding mission requirements under harsh conditions they might encounter in battle. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Novalee Manzella)
However, the strikes cannot guarantee markets will respond positively enough to meaningfully reduce prices.
Trump has claimed that Iran’s military is at its breaking point, claiming that the Middle Eastern state has little to no leverage in negotiations.
At the same time, the president has said he has little interest in pursuing a deal with Iran, after recently rejecting the latest agreement because its stipulations were unacceptable.
A successful deal would likely reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore stability to oil prices, which have risen sharply in response to the conflict in the region.
Rising Pump Prices a Major Consideration for Voters
Reports of a return to war come as conflict-driven gas price hikes drive President Trump’s poor approval ratings, and the president may want the country to believe that new strikes, should they occur, could bring them down.
Trump has said that pump prices will be sure to “drop like a rock” once the war against Iran ends.
The national average price of gas is $4.36 per gallon, with consumers in high-cost-of-living states like California and Hawaii paying the most, at $6.34 and $5.63, respectively.
Republicans Aren’t Happy with the Ongoing War
A growing number of Republicans have broken ranks with Trump owing to his commitment to continue the war in Iran, which has caused significant financial strain to constituents and potential voters.
Many have said the conflict needs to end as soon as possible so gas and other commodity prices can drop, and some Republican candidates have avoided campaigning with the president, or even mentioning his name, in campaign materials.
Republican candidates like Ashley Hinson, who is running for Iowa’s Senate seat, said that the “war [in Iran] needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end.” Michigan Republican senatorial candidate Mike Rogers also called for an end to the war in a campaign video.
Republican Representative Zach Nunn of Iowa, who is in a close-knit race to keep his seat, said in a statement that he would no longer support continued military operations in Iran.
Another Iowa Republican representative up for reelection, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, echoed similar sentiments, saying that she would vote against “an open-ended war” that she said is making “Iowans pay too much at the pump.”
The Cost of the War is No Joke, Either
The war effort is also not cheap, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that taxpayers have put in roughly $38 billion as of August this year to fund the war in Iran.
This amount covers costs such as increased flying hours, replacing used munitions and lost equipment, fuel, and other expenses.
This is despite the relatively limited involvement of US forces in direct combat, with intense operations lasting just over a month.
If the president maintains the status quo and keeps attacks to a minimum, the US would still spend $2 billion per month, and resuming more intense military operations would obviously cause a significant jump in spending.
About the Author: Tim Ramos
Tim Ramos has written for various publications, corporations, and organizations, covering everything from finance and politics to travel, entertainment, and sports, in Asia and the U.S. for more than 10 years.
