It could be timing for dramatic effect, so that, days before the election, we have another "peace is at hand" cycle, before repeating the "bomb them into the stone age" cycle, yet again.

It’s his usual blustery style but at least I think it has a small chance of success. He’s saying “Give me more now, or I will annihilate you after our elections.” That gives them pause to think “Maybe now is the time to make a deal”. Of course his bluster has been heard so many times before it’s old (and ineffective) but there’s always a chance that, as Bullwinkle says, “This time fer sure!”

It’s so very odd to have a President come out and say “I’m timing my prosecution of the war around our American elections.’ I mean I know Johnson and Nixon did it with Vietnam, but they didn’t put the message on a billboard for everyone to read fer cripes sakes. This one is “Dear Iran, you have a month to either give me more, or perhaps ramp up your attacks on oil infrastructure throughout the MidEast and make Americans pay even more for their everyday lives.” I wonder which of the two options they will choose?

Meanwhile Iran’s leaders have clearly decided they, too, want “more”, as their offer was roughly the same as the one agreed to months ago - but Trump turned it down flat. “I’ve got them on the ropes”, he says. Natalie nods, approvingly.