WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) – The U.S. president, Donald Trump, said on Thursday that the United States is maintaining productive discussions with Iran and will not launch an attack against the country before the midterm elections in November.
“We are maintaining productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. He stated that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect and that oil is circulating through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We will not attack Iran at any time before the midterm elections that will be held in the United States on November 3,” Trump said.
The United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran in February, and the war — with a monthly cost of $3 billion — has become a central issue in the American electoral campaign.
Trump has said that he expects oil prices to fall drastically after the elections, but high gasoline prices and the war in Iran are weighing heavily on Republican candidates and threatening their majority in Congress.
Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals in recent weeks with the aim of ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy transportation. Trump rejected Tehran’s latest offer.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Doina Chiacu)
