The key facts

  • Trump and his advisers discussed the situation with Iran for the first time since the congressional elections at the weekly intelligence briefing
  • Three scenarios are being considered: new strikes, economic strangulation of the regime, or a deal with significant concessions to Iran
  • Trump acknowledged as justified JD Vance's view that the conflict was the main reason for the Republicans' defeat in the elections

Post-election meeting and three courses of action

US President Donald Trump, for the first time since the midterm congressional elections, held a meeting with his top national security advisers devoted to the situation with Iran. The meeting took place as part of the weekly intelligence briefing, as reported by the Axios portal citing its own sources.

Content of the discussion

According to Axios, at this point the president is considering three options: launching new strikes, continuing the economic strangulation of the Iranian regime, or concluding a deal that would include significant concessions to the Iranians. Thus, for the first time at this stage, the scenarios under discussion include an agreement option involving concessions to Tehran — alongside military escalation and continued pressure.

Parallel diplomacy

At the same time, Axios notes, there was intense diplomatic activity: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held numerous phone conversations with regional mediators from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, Oman and Egypt. This indicates that the diplomatic channel around the conflict is active regardless of which of the three scenarios the White House chooses.

Connection to the election results

On November 4, Trump stated that he intends to end the war with Iranwhenever he wants, but it must be «done right». At the same time, according to Gazeta.Ru, he acknowledged as justified the statement by the vice president JD Vance that the conflict with Iran was the main reason for the Republican Party's defeat in the midterm congressional elections. The meeting and the simultaneous discussion of a deal option with concessions are unfolding precisely against this backdrop — after an electoral result that, in the vice president's assessment, is directly linked to the war.