Iran escalates attacks on US Navy to force confrontation, pressure Trump ahead of midterms

Iran is intensifying attacks on US Navy assets in the Gulf, driven by a blockade choking its oil exports and soaring inflation. Tehran aims to exact an economic price on the US and Gulf states or portray Trump as weak before the midterm elections, viewing both outcomes as favorable. The escalation marks a deliberate strategy to provoke direct confrontation, raising the risk of broader conflict.