President Donald Trump said Thursday that the U.S. is holding off on further attacks on Iran until after the midterms, while maintaining a blockade as talks with Tehran continue.
“We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, describing discussions with Iran as “productive.”
Trump said the blockade would remain “in full force and effect” and claimed Iran was in poor economic and military condition.
He did not say whether the United States would consider strikes after the election, although the two countries have not exchanged blows publicly in recent weeks.
The president’s announcement comes a day after an Atlantic report detailed a White House push for the Pentagon to develop attack options against Iranian targets that could happen before the midterms.
Early last month, Trump told reporters the Iran war would end “immediately after the election,” blaming Iranian leadership for trying to prolong the conflict to hurt him politically.
The war, now in its seventh month, has become a top issue for voters as soaring energy prices threaten to deepen their concerns about the economy.
In September, the average price of diesel hit a record $6.53, according to AAA. Average fuel prices remain significantly higher now than a year ago, although down from recent peaks.
The president hit his lowest-ever approval rating on foreign affairs in a CNN poll last month, with just 29% of U.S. adults approving of his handling of the issue. Seventy percent said his decisions on the Iran war in particular were hurting American fortunes.
Republicans in competitive Senate races have increasingly called for an end to the conflict.
Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) told POLITICO last month that the war “needs to come to an end as quickly as possible so that we can lower gas prices,” following similar statements from GOP Senate nominees Ashley Hinson in Iowa and Mike Rogers in Michigan.
Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton privately complained about the war and increasing gas prices as drags on his campaign, according to a closed-door recording published Wednesday by Axios.
Paxton faces Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for Texas’ open Senate race.
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