Iran War Stalls Until Midterms as Oil Prices and Political Constraints Lock Both Sides
The US-Iran conflict is likely to remain unresolved until after the November 2026 midterm elections. Analysts argue that Iran benefits from high oil prices to pressure US voters, while President Trump avoids a 'surrender' narrative. Despite this stalemate, the US has established alternative oil shipping routes, and military escalation remains limited by depleted munitions stockpiles.