Why the timeline matters
The idea that Iran would calibrate its actions to the US political calendar isn't new, but it carries weight now. With Trump's term winding down, Tehran may see little incentive to de-escalate. Instead, it could keep pressure on through a mix of military posturing, proxy activity, and diplomatic maneuvering. Each of those tools carries its own risks, and each would force a response from Washington.
That would leave the next administration — whoever it is — to inherit a live conflict rather than a settled one. US
