(TNND) — President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections, while reiterating that Tehran will not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said his administration was having “productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran” and stressed that the U.S. would not strike, even as Iran is in “very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily.”
“The blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait,” Trump wrote, claiming 22 million barrels moved through the waterway the previous night and that none was going to or coming from Iran.
Negotiations had appeared at a standstill since Trump late last month publicly rejectedIran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the U.S. met certain conditions.
Iran, however, said last week it had received a U.S. counterproposal. And Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said he expected Tehran would offer a formal reply within days.
Trump’s post comes as the military has dispatched more resources to the region. U.S. officials have said a third aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and thousands of troops aboard it and accompanying ships could arrive as early as the end of October.
Trump’s announcement was made the same day the USS Abraham Lincoln was due to arrive to its home port in San Diego after a record-long deployment in support of the Iran war.
There have been reports of crew stress and poor mental health, as well as supply shortages, including food and hygiene products.
The USS George Washington, which is usually based in Asia, relieved the Lincoln in August. The other aircraft carrier in the Middle East, the USS George H.W. Bush, has been deployed for about six months, but it pulled into Phuket, Thailand, for a port visit several days ago.