Trump says US military will not attack Iran before midterm elections
WASHINGTON — President Trump claimed that his administration is “having productive discussions” and vowed to hold off on resuming attacks against the Islamic Republic before the midterm elections. “We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the president wrote on Truth Social Thursday. “[W]hile 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,” he added, “we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections.” 3 President Trump points during a campaign rally for Republican US Senate candidate Ken Paxton at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas on Oct. 7, 2026. REUTERS Trump’s pronouncement that he won’t resume attacks against Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections comes on the heels of an Atlantic magazine piece claiming that he had been contemplating strikes before voters go to the polls to decide control of Congress. The president has long been rumored to be considering a resumption of attacks against Iran after the midterms take place. Explore More Trump honors Elon Musk, Jensen Haung and other top tech CEOs with prestigious science award The week in whoppers: Mamdani inverts reality to push a government takeover, Newsom puts words in Trump’s mouth and more Trump unveils $2.4B in pledges from tech giants including Nvidia, OpenAI to fund federal AI mission In his Truth Social post, Trump claimed that the US got 22 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz and underscored his pledge to ensure Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon. Oil prices jumped Wednesday after the Atlantic report about Trump contemplating strikes before the midterms, surging to $105 a barrel, according to the Brent crude benchmark. 3 A drone view shows vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Friday, October 2, 2026. REUTERS Crude prices began to drop after Trump’s Truth Social post, falling to about $103 a barrel, according to Brent . Trump has previously been mindful that Iranian leaders are paying close attention to his public statements. Back in April, he infamously warned that an entire civilization would die if Iran didn’t cut a deal. Tehran later reached a deal with his administration. The Pentagon directed Central Command to be prepared for major military operations against Iran, though a timeline for when strikes may resume is up to the president, Axios reported . Trump and his team have long maintained that all options are on the table with Iran. “Their leaders are gone, their second group of leaders are gone, and the biggest problem I have is nobody knows who the hell is running the country,” Trump vented on Tuesday. Iran has loomed large over the midterm elections. The regime’s sporadic attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies once flowed through annually, led to a surge in prices at the gas pump. 3 Smoke rising from buildings in Tehran after a strike on the Iranian capital on March 3, 2026. Trump announced that the US will not attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, dismissing rumors of planned military strikes. AFP via Getty Images Gas prices are hovering around $4.36 nationally, according to the latest data from the American Automobile Association. Some top officials, such as Energy Secretary Chris Wright, have expressed confidence that prices will drop. “Diesel prices have been going down. Gasoline prices have been going down. I expect that to continue,” Wright told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. Republicans in key races across the country, including Senate races in Maine and Michigan, have distanced themselves from Trump’s decision to go to war in Iran.