President Donald Trump said the United States will not attack Iran before the November midterm congressional elections, asserting that Washington and Tehran are having productive discussions about ending the six-month-old war.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump wrote: “We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran. We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd.”
The announcement comes as the conflict, which began in February when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, has helped drive Trump’s domestic approval ratings downward and is weighing heavily on his fellow Republicans as they seek to preserve their narrow legislative majorities in November’s election.
Some 60% of Americans — including one in four Republicans — disapprove of how Trump is handling the situation in Iran, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. The conflict has also pushed gasoline prices sharply higher at a time when voters say their top concern is the cost of living.
Trump has repeatedly said he expects oil prices to drop after the elections, but he has not offered a detailed plan for exiting the war. Iran and the US have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route. Trump rejected Tehran’s latest offer.
Iran’s state media reported on Thursday that Tehran would not abandon uranium enrichment or hand over its uranium stockpile, citing the head of the country’s Atomic Energy Organization. The statement came days after US Vice President JD Vance told Reuters that Iran must make “meaningful” reductions in its enrichment capacity.
The US, Israel and Western allies have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, an accusation Iran has denied.
The war has entered its sixth month with no clear end in sight, though the two sides continue to exchange proposals. Trump’s latest remarks suggest a pause in hostilities at least until the US midterm elections, a move that may be aimed at calming voters concerned about rising gas prices and the broader economic impact of the conflict.
With the midterms approaching on November 3, the White House appears to be balancing military pressure on Iran with domestic political considerations. Republicans are fighting to keep their narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, and the war has emerged as a key vulnerability for the party in power.
Trump’s statement on Truth Social did not elaborate on what a post-election strategy might look like, nor did it specify what concessions, if any, Iran has offered in the ongoing talks. The US military had been told to be prepared for Iran strikes, according to earlier reports, underscoring the tension that remains despite the diplomatic track.
As the election draws nearer, the administration faces the challenge of managing a war that has already reshaped the political landscape, while voters weigh the cost of living and national security priorities at the ballot box.
Source: ARY News