Trump says U.S. will not strike Iran before November midterms

Trump’s statement on the Iran conflict

Trump declared on Truth Social that the United States will not strike Iran “at any time prior” to the November 3 midterm elections. The claim was made after reports from the Atlantic suggested that the White House had asked the Pentagon to develop strike options that could be carried out before the elections.

Context of the claim

The president’s remarks come as his approval rating has fallen to a new low, according to recent polling. Gas prices remain elevated, with the average gallon costing more than a dollar more than before the war with Iran began in February. The conflict has become a politically toxic issue for Republicans, with several Trump-endorsed nominees in key battlegrounds calling for an end to the war to ease prices for voters.

Unverified aspects

While the Guardian reports that the White House requested the Pentagon to prepare strike options, no official confirmation of that request has been released. The statement that the U.S. will not attack as long as Iran remains in very bad economic and military condition and the Hormuz blockade remains in force is attributed solely to Trump’s social-media post.

Related developments

The article also notes that the Trump administration has pressured several countries to withdraw sponsorship of a European disinformation conference, and that the U.S. has intervened after taking issue with a panel examining the U.S. as a potential foreign information threat. These actions were reported by people familiar with the matter and internal State Department documents.