Most of our restraint is not due to the upcoming election, so much as the perceived ground-swell of dissatisfaction sweeping the peoples of Iran. Like in North Korea, we think that if we just wait the rotten regimes will fall on their own.
But I wonder that the Soviet Union analogy is perhaps flawed. It may even be that Iran & Korea are making their problems look worse in order to increase US hesitation. Hope we aren't being played for fools while they complete their final preparations for going nuclear.
"...It may even be that Iran & Korea are making their problems look worse in order to increase US hesitation...."
Of course. That should be obvious. Ever read Sun Tzu's "Art of War"?