US-Iran Conflict: Two Clocks Ticking as Oil Flows and Election Loom

The war between Iran and the US has multiple clocks ticking in its favor. The first is related to oil, where the average prewar flow of oil out of the Strait of Hormuz is around 20 million barrels per day.

The goal for the Trump administration's military efforts is to get as close to this number as possible, creating time for economic pressure on Iran via blockades and other measures. This would give the US more time to push Iran's economy to its limits.

However, another clock is ticking - the political one. With only 138 days until the next U.S. Congress is seated, Democrats are likely to control the House, and possibly even the Senate. Many Republicans will attribute their potential defeat to the war in Iran.