Trump prepares for Iran escalation after U.S., Israeli elections

President Donald Trump is preparing to potentially resume U.S. military strikes against Iran following the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as a Middle East war now in its ninth month shows signs of escalating despite his earlier prediction it would end quickly. Trump has deployed a third aircraft carrier strike group and 10,000 additional personnel to the Persian Gulf, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel days before its election. Iran is bracing for a fresh bombing campaign and preparing to retaliate across the region, including against Israel and the UAE, according to a person familiar with Tehran's thinking. The conflict has driven Brent crude above $115 a barrel, pushed Iran's inflation to around 90%, and left two-thirds of Americans disapproving of Trump's handling of the war. Diplomacy remains stalled, though Iran's foreign minister has made a plea for negotiations, and experts warn renewed fighting could backfire politically on both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.