Trump Reportedly Rules Out Iran Strike Before Midterms

President Donald Trump has reportedly stated that the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections. He cited what he called "fruitful talks" between Washington and the Islamic Republic.

Trump also said Iran is in a very difficult situation, both economically and in other respects.

The Abu Ali Express channel carried the remarks, and they could not be independently verified. The channel framed them as an effort to calm energy markets and push down fuel and oil prices ahead of the vote.

The statement runs counter to reporting on the administration's internal deliberations. The Atlantic cited two administration officials who said Trump was weighing renewed strikes on Iran before the midterms. That report said the White House had asked the Pentagon to prepare options for hitting Iranian targets. US Central Command was developing the plans, and no final decision had been made.

The Atlantic linked those discussions to Trump's wish to show progress in the campaign and to bring down fuel prices before the November 3 elections. Officials involved in the talks cautioned that another strike could drive oil prices higher. They also warned that it could increase the risk of Iranian retaliation against the roughly 50,000 American troops stationed in the region.

Energy markets remain volatile. On October 8, oil prices were climbing back toward $105 a barrel, even as more oil moved out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. That report attributed the rise to Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast as fighting with Saudi Arabia escalated.