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Bombing, diplomacy or sanctions: WSJ outlines Trump's Iran options

Shelby Holliday's analysis examines the costs of each path after Trump acknowledged the war contributed to Republican midterm losses.

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The Wall Street Journal Story of November 7, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of The Wall Street Journal's most watched videos since yesterday, with 14,049 views.

Trump’s Three Possible Scenarios for the Iran War After the Midterms

"The Iran thing we had to do, and we continue to do it," Donald Trump tells reporters in footage from November 5. What continuing means is the question at the center of The Wall Street Journal's analysis.

National security correspondent Shelby Holliday outlines three paths under consideration, moving beyond the election fallout to the military and diplomatic choices facing the president.

The first is escalation: a major bombing campaign against Iranian infrastructure and nuclear facilities. Holliday says advocates argue that the United States needs to finish the job. But she identifies substantial risks, including wider devastation, depleted munitions and potential American casualties.

The second is diplomacy, seeking a negotiated exit from the conflict. According to Holliday's report, that route would require significant concessions. The video presents it as an option, not an agreement already taking shape.

The third is continued economic pressure through port blockades and tighter sanctions. Holliday explains that this approach also requires a sustained military commitment, rather than offering a way to disengage quickly.

Her warning is about the calendar as much as the strategy: economic pressure could leave the conflict unresolved into the next presidential election, creating what she calls "a huge liability for Republicans."

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