Trump said that his decisions on Iran are not influenced by the midterm elections, but from a political perspective, it’s hard to believe he’s completely indifferent to how war might impact the Republican Party’s prospects. After all, rising oil prices increase travel and transportation costs, and prolonged conflict adds economic uncertainty. Voters might not care about every detail of the negotiations, but they’ll definitely notice if gas prices go up or if their cost of living doesn’t go down. All these frustrations could translate into pressure on Republicans during the elections. Iran might also be doing the math here. The closer it gets to the elections, the more Trump might want to lower oil prices and resolve the deadlock. If Iran keeps stalling, they might secure more favorable terms in negotiations. Remember Carter? He faced a similar situation—the Iran hostage crisis, combined with inflation and economic issues, hurt his re-election campaign in 1980. This could explain why, even if Trump does care about the elections, he’s publicly emphasizing that he’s not in a rush. Admitting he needs a deal before the elections would be like telling his opponent about his time pressure, giving Iran more reason to wait. One @Gate, trade more markets.