Trump May Order Major Iran Operation if Republicans Lose Midterms: Report

President Donald Trump may be more likely to order a major military operation against Iran if Republicans suffer heavy losses in the upcoming midterm elections, according to an Axios report citing a US official, though a White House official denied election results would influence his decisions. The report follows Trump's confirmation that he was delaying further military action until after the elections, while he has recently hinted at fresh strikes, including a possible operation similar to "Epic Fury" that began the war in February. Top military officials briefed Trump on Iran options Thursday, and US officials reportedly told Arab Gulf leaders to prepare for a short but intense campaign. The potential escalation comes amid domestic political scrutiny, with a Harvard CAPS-Harris poll showing only 35 percent approval of Trump's war handling. The conflict has cost over $47 billion in seven-and-a-half months, with Washington citing preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons as the central objective.