On Thursday, President Donald Trump stated that the United States will not launch an attack on Iran prior to the November 3 midterm elections, noting that Washington is engaged in productive talks with Tehran.
His comment on Truth Social came after oil prices spiked on Thursday, prompted by media speculation about possible U.S. strikes ahead of the elections.
He wrote, “I want to make it clear that, although Iran is in poor economic and military shape and the blockade will remain fully in effect, the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections.”
He added, “We are engaged in productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” without offering further specifics.
The Atlantic reported on Wednesday that the White House had directed the Pentagon to draft options for striking Iranian targets that could be employed before the midterms. The New York Times followed with a similar story on Thursday, noting that the planning continued despite Trump’s expressed ambivalence.
Increasing crude oil prices have also been driven by ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz—a vital chokepoint for global oil trade—and by clashes between Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
As a recent indication of those tensions, the UKMTO maritime agency said on Wednesday that an oil tanker sailing north of Qatar reported being hit by multiple projectiles, resulting in an unspecified number of casualties.
Polls indicate that American voters are strongly dissatisfied with rising fuel prices, which they associate with the conflict initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran in February.
The U.S. leader has repeatedly asserted in recent weeks that the United States has effectively won the Iran conflict, even as unrest persists and a recent security threat prompted the withdrawal of American bombers from a base in England.
However, Trump’s assertion that fuel prices will drop once the Iran war ends has not resonated with voters.
The upcoming midterm elections will determine the course of the final two years of Trump’s presidency, as his Republican Party faces the prospect of losing its hold on Congress.
Although Trump is not a candidate on the ballot, he remains deeply involved in the campaign, holding numerous rallies aimed at mitigating losses or even reversing the political trend.
Trump has warned that he could face a third impeachment if Democrats regain control of the House, and the White House is bracing for a series of investigations into allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
On Thursday, the U.S. president also sought to quell the controversy surrounding his earlier rally remarks that Iran could ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego.
The 80‑year‑old Trump blamed ‘fake and artificial news’ for distorting his comments, a narrative that Democrats quickly seized upon.
He said on Truth Social, “In reality, I was saying that a temporary rise in gasoline prices is a small price to pay to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon; consider what the cost would be if they bombed San Diego and/or Los Angeles.”
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