Al Jazeera cited military analysts who noted that US President Donald Trump had stated on social media that he would not attack Iran before the midterm elections, but also claimed at the Republican convention in September that the conflict would end immediately after the elections. Meanwhile, attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran surged to post-war highs, with Iran beginning to employ new attack strategies. Data from maritime tracking firm Kpler showed that oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz had recovered to 81% of pre-war levels in September, but recently dropped to a monthly low of 2.9 million barrels per day on October 11 due due to intensified Iranian attacks. Analysts believe that if the situation escalates, the US might conduct limited strikes on Iran's coastline and inland targets, but Iran has adapted, and the US has expended a large number of expensive defensive missile systems, with replenishment of inventory requiring several years. The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament stated last month that its era of "proportional response" has ended.