Trump Says U.S. Will Not Attack Iran Before Nov. 3 Midterms, Citing Productive Discussions

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States will not attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, writing on Truth Social that Washington is having productive discussions with Tehran, according to Reuters.

Reuters reported that Trump said the blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect and that oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. In the same post, he described Iran as being in poor economic and military shape, according to USA Today.

Statement follows reports of strike planning

The announcement came after reports that the White House had asked the Pentagon to prepare limited strike options that could be used before the midterms, with larger action also weighed for afterward, according to USA Today, which cited reporting by The Atlantic. CNN likewise reported that administration planners had been preparing options for a possible resumption of hostilities and that Trump had not fully ruled out renewed strikes before Thursday’s post.

USA Today reported that Trump’s remarks followed a jump in oil prices and a fall in stocks amid concern that attacks could resume. Trump has said he expects the eight-month conflict to end shortly after the election, which will decide control of Congress, according to USA Today.

Economic pressure continues

Even as he ruled out attacks before the vote, Trump said pressure would stay on Tehran. CNN reported that the Treasury Department on Thursday announced new sanctions affecting 17 vessels that officials said were part of a shadow fleet used to move Iranian oil and petrochemical products to countries in south and east Asia despite existing sanctions.

CNN also reported that Washington has sent Tehran a counterproposal after Trump rejected an Iranian proposal last month to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and that Tehran says it is considering the U.S. proposal. USA Today noted that Trump’s claim about the volume of crude moving through the strait is disputed, with analysts offering a different assessment from the U.S. government’s.

Reporting based on coverage by Reuters, USA Today and CNN.