Iran Steps Up Ship Attacks Ahead Of US Midterm Elections, New Tactics Revealed: Report

Iran has adopted new tactics to target commercial ships in and beyond the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to keep oil prices elevated ahead of the November US midterm elections, Reuters reported, citing senior Iranian officials.

As part of the new strategy, Tehran will also expand the geographical scope of its operations beyond the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman and waters further afield, the officials said.

Sources told Axios that despite disagreement between the two leaders, both US and Israeli militaries are on alert and concluding preparations to be ready in case Trump changes his mind.

While the community accounts for a fraction of the overall electorate, their numbers are concentrated in places where margins are thin: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Texas, New Jersey, and the suburbs around Atlanta and Washington.

In a statement on X on Monday, US Rep. Ilhan Omar called the search an "attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement."

The numbers, first reported by the New York Times ahead of this week's federal filing deadline, were confirmed by Andrew Romeo, a spokesperson for Musk's super PAC.

Musk's political spending has reached roughly $366 million in the current election cycle, surpassing the approximately $290 million he spent during the previous cycle.

Washington reportedly urged Israel to strike Iran without US military involvement but withdrew the request after Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir warned the operation could delay elections.

The deal involves Washington relaxing some wartime sanctions on Moscow, as the White House tries to bring down fuel costs before the midterm elections.

Donald Trump has promised a major announcement on diesel as US prices climb 70% since the Iran war began, with fuel costs emerging as a key concern ahead of November's midterm elections.