Donald Trump has ruled out strikes on Iran before the midterm elections despite a series of attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US president said “we will not be attacking Iran at any time” ahead of the elections on Nov 3.
He made the comment despite the Islamic Republic hitting at least nine vessels in the waterway last week, according to data from the United Nations and maritime tracking firm Kpler – the most in any week this year, according to the firm.
The strikes have virtually stopped the flow of oil once more, after the US boasted about transiting up to 17 million barrels of oil a day over the summer on vessels escorted by the navy and with air cover.
Brent crude oil hit $105 a barrel on Thursday, hampering the Republican Party’s faltering hopes of winning midterm elections dominated by discussions about high gas prices and the spiralling cost of living for Americans.
Writing on Truth Social, Mr Trump, who has previously claimed Tehran was trying to influence the vote against him by prolonging the war, said that Washington was having “productive discussions” with Iranian officials.
While around 16 million barrels of oil passed through Hormuz last Friday, just half of that amount moved through by Monday.
No finished fuels are known to have made it through on Monday compared with a daily average of 3.6 million barrels a day before the war.
Officials said the US military was preparing options that could lead to a restart of major combat operations against Iran.
A total of three aircraft carrier strike groups have been dispatched to the Middle East, including a specialist amphibious attack group, and could arrive by the end of October.
The group includes the USS George Washington, which has been moved from its typical deployment in the Pacific Ocean to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which was returned to the US after being at sea for more than 260 days straight.
In the summer, the US claimed up to 17 million barrels of oil a day were shipped through the strait on escorted vessels – ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty
An intense three-day campaign has been planned, with a focus on Iran’s rebuilt missile and drone arsenal, officials told The New York Times.
While vetoing heavy combat operations, Mr Trump has ordered the Pentagon to develop plans to strike Iran’s drone and missile arsenal, energy facilities and other military sites.
The sources said officials had given the president proposals for major operations against Iran and the Houthis but that he had vetoed each of them to focus on future strikes.
Eyal Zamir, the Israel Defense Force’s chief of staff, was also briefed on preparations for the US to return to fighting Iran in upcoming weeks, a senior American official told N12 News.
Lt Gen Zamir warned that returning to conflict could cause the Israeli election to be postponed beyond its scheduled date of Oct 27 amid concerns Iran could launch missile attacks on the country.
In recent weeks, Yemen-backed rebel Houthis have also affected crude prices through targeting oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia amid its escalating war against Saudi-backed Yemeni forces.
On Friday, Saudi Arabia said three people, including a pilot, had been killed in a Houthi attack on Riyadh airport.