Trump Weighs Iran Strikes After Midterms as Tehran Threatens Gulf

The United States has warned Gulf allies that a military offensive against Iran is a concrete option following the November 3 midterm elections, with President Donald Trump reportedly considering immediate strikes if Republicans suffer a major defeat. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed to respond to any threat "without geographical restrictions," while a Qatari-owned tanker was hit by unidentified projectiles in the Gulf. The White House remains publicly open to diplomacy, but internal divisions persist between officials favoring negotiations and those skeptical of any deal with Tehran. The potential escalation is closely monitored by Israel, where outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could use a new war to form a unity government with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot. Qatar continues mediating between Washington and Tehran, though major gaps remain over nuclear concessions and sanctions relief.