WASHINGTON DC, USA. (AP). — President Donald Trump said Thursday (US time) that he will not order a resumption of military strikes on Iran before the November 3 US midterm elections.
Trump, while stumping for Republicans this week, has hinted that he was confident that an endgame to the war could come in the days before or after the election, while also hinting that he remained open to resuming full-scale military operations against Iran.
For weeks, Trump has been threatening that a post-midterm election escalation in the seven-month-old war remains a viable option, despite his initial promises to Americans of a military campaign that would last a matter of weeks.
But Trump – in a ‘Truth Social’ post on Thursday (US time) – said the U.S. “will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd.”
Trump added that his team has been “having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The U.S. and Iran signed a short-lived interim agreement in June, intended to establish a 60-day ceasefire and framework for a permanent peace deal.
Negotiations appear at a standstill since Trump late last month publicly rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US met certain conditions.
Iran has ramped up attacks on tankers passing through the strait in recent days. And overall, ship traffic remains well below prewar levels, as are shipments of liquid natural gas and fuel products.
Iran, however, said last week they had received a US counterproposal.
And Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Thursday (US time) said he expected Iran would offer a formal reply within days.
“The diplomatic process is still continuing,” Araqchi said.
