Trump says US will not attack Iran before midterm elections in November

President Donald Trump declared on Thursday that the United States would not initiate an attack on Iran prior to the November midterm congressional elections, emphasizing that the two nations are engaged in fruitful discussions to conclude the six-month-long war. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd."

The ongoing conflict, which commenced in February with strikes from the US and Israel, has contributed to a decline in Trump's domestic approval ratings and concerns among Republican lawmakers striving to safeguard their slim legislative majority in the upcoming election.

Public opinion in the United States is divided regarding Trump's handling of the Iran situation. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that 60% of Americans, including a quarter of Republicans, disapprove of his approach. The war has led to a significant rise in gasoline prices, with voters expressing the cost of living as their primary concern. Despite Trump's repeated assertion that oil prices will decrease following the elections, he has not outlined a comprehensive strategy for withdrawing from the war.

Tensions between Iran and the US have resulted in proposals being exchanged in recent weeks to end the conflict and restore the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy shipping route. However, Trump dismissed Tehran's latest offer. Iran's state media reported on Thursday that Tehran would not relinquish its uranium enrichment activities or surrender its uranium stockpile, as stated by the head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization.

This stance came days after US Vice President Kamala Harris told Reuters that Iran must make "meaningful" reductions in its enrichment capacity. The United States, Israel, and Western allies have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim Iran has consistently denied.