US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States will not launch an attack on Iran before the country’s midterm elections, citing ongoing discussions between Washington and Tehran.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump said the US would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, adding that the two countries were engaged in what he described as productive talks.
At the same time, Trump said the blockade imposed on Iran would remain fully in place. He also claimed that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz had reached record levels, saying around 22 million barrels passed through the waterway on Wednesday and that none originated from or was destined for Iran.
Trump reiterated that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
His remarks followed reports that the White House had asked the Pentagon to prepare possible military strike options against Iranian targets that could potentially be used before the midterm elections.
The latest developments come after the US and Israel launched military action against Iran on February 28, prompting Iran to respond with missile and drone attacks across the region. The conflict also led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global energy shipments.
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