Oct. 8 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States will not strike Iran before the midterm elections in November, saying that the administration is having talks with the country.
“We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“I want to make it clear to everybody that, while Iran is in very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait (22 Million Barrels, last night alone, with not one barrel coming from, or going to, 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. IRAN WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”
The president didn’t say if he would consider attacks after the election, though no strikes have been exchanged in recent weeks.
Last month, Trump told reporters that the war would end immediately after the election saying that Iran was prolonging the war to cause him political pain.
On Wednesday, The Atlantic published a report about the White House pushing the Pentagon for attack options against Iranian targets.
The adminstration said that “all options” are available to Trump on Iran.
“The Commander-in-Chief has all options available at any time,” a White House official said Thursday. “The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing.”
“Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways; the easy way or the hard way. President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States,” the official said.