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Iranians Fear War as U.S. and Israeli Elections Loom
· Confirmed
In Short: Vice President JD Vance ruled out declaring the conflict with Iran a war, despite renewed attacks and a growing U.S. military presence in the Middle East, as the hostilities enter their seventh month and midterm elections loom.
Pentagon estimates the war has cost $43.6 billion so far, with polls showing Americans increasingly opposing the war due to its economic impact.
Election analyst Adrian Beaumont wrote that if the Iran war continues until the midterm elections, with increased petrol prices and inflation, Republicans are likely to lose control of both the House and the Senate, possibly with huge losses.
Massie will force a House vote on the matter no later than Thursday, though it is not expected to succeed, and could have profound impact on the midterm elections by forcing Republicans to choose a side on the unpopular war.
President Donald Trump's sinking ratings threaten to drag down Republicans in November’s midterm elections, as voters blame him for high prices and a shaky economy.
In a letter marking Ukraine’s Independence Day on Aug. 24, Netanyahu congratulated Zelensky and the Ukrainian people, praised Ukraine’s resilience, and described Iran as a common threat facing both countries.
Relations between Ukraine and Israel appear to be entering a period of cautious rapprochement, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaching out directly to President Volodymyr Zelensky as Israel approaches national elections.
Despite renewed attacks and a growing military presence, Vance said an end would require a halt in Iranians shooting at commercial shipping.
Fereshteh Hajipour, 35, the mother of a toddler, said she was stockpiling over-the-counter medicines and food for fear of a 'possible war and bigger bombs.'
The Supreme Court begins its new term Monday facing cases on Americans’ civil rights, federalist struggles between states and the federal government, and the looming specter of more last-second litigation over the coming midterm elections.
What this adds
Despite renewed attacks and a growing military presence, Vice President JD Vance ruled out declaring the conflict with Iran a war, stressing the challenge the Trump administration faces as the hostilities enter their seventh month and midterm elections loom.
Background
Despite renewed attacks and a growing military presence, U.S. Vice President JD Vance ruled out calling the conflict with Iran a war, stressing the challenge the Trump administration faces as the hostilities enter their seventh month and midterm elections loom, as reported by Geo.
What's confirmed
- Pentagon estimates US$43.6 billion so far Polls show Americans increasingly oppose the war, partly over its impact on the economy, as the November midterm elections approach 2 -MIN READ 2 -MIN 1 Listen Tribune News Service Published: 9:14am, 19 Sep 2026 The Iran war has cost US$43.6 billion as of this month, the highest official estimate to date, the Pentagon told Congress’ defence oversight panels this week.
What's still developing
- WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday ruled out calling the conflict with Iran a war, despite renewed attacks and a growing military presence in the Middle East, stressing the challenge the Trump administration faces as the hostilities enter their seventh month and midterm elections loom.
- Russians cast ballots to choose lawmakers for the State Duma, with the all-out war on Ukraine and a slowing economy looming over the country's first parliamentary elections since the start of the 2022 invasion.
- Amid Kremlin fears of apathy and frustration, Putin, who frequently accuses the West of seeking to weaken or destroy Russia, exhorted Russians to vote, calling the election a barometer of support for the war.
- Since President Vladimir Putin came to power over a quarter-century ago, the Kremlin has increasingly stifled dissent, marginalized political opponents, and manipulated elections, leaving little room for surprises.
- "feel more comfortable bucking him on things that they really care about."
- “And the Republicans are still standing because of the geography in which this election will be won or lost.” Still, the poll suggests an increasingly gloomy political environment for the GOP.
- “Donald Trump has achieved his goal of making this election about him at a historic level. The problem for Trump and Republicans on the ballot in November is that he has also made history in the highest share of voters who say their vote is in opposition to Trump,” said Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates.
- “From the time of my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually, built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people,” Trump told reporters.
- "Today I bought more canned food, crackers and extra blankets."
- "They've accepted that he will attack us again, before or after the elections," Karimi said.
- A Kyiv Post source in Jerusalem said they do not expect major decisions concerning Ukraine before the election and the formation of the next Israeli government.
- “And in a way, we are running. So pretend that I’m running and go out,” he said, emphasizing the stakes for the election.