Kathmandu— As the United States and Iran continue to exchange attacks in the Persian Gulf, the November 3 midterm elections have emerged as a pivotal deadline for the Trump administration, which seeks to prevent the conflict from escalating into all-out war before voters head to the polls, according to analysts and senior officials.

Midterm Politics and War Containment

The midterms will determine whether Republicans can retain narrow control of Congress, with analysts warning that an escalation of the Iran conflict before November 3 could sway voters against the Trump administration. A late-August Reuters/Ipsos poll showed only 31 percent of Americans support the war, compared to 63 percent who oppose it, while Trump's approval rating has fallen from 40 percent to 33 percent since hostilities began.

The administration has intensified economic pressure on Iran through sanctions targeting oil revenues, while maintaining a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Vice President JD Vance has sought to downplay the conflict, claiming there is 'no active shooting right now' and that the war has 'less effect day by day' on global energy markets, though shipping data does not fully support these assertions.

With both sides navigating a precarious balance between economic pressure and military restraint, the coming weeks will determine whether the Trump administration can successfully contain the conflict until after the midterms, or whether a miscalculation could trigger a wider regional war.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.