Trump Says US Won’t Attack Iran Before November Midterm Election

President Donald Trump said the US would not attack Iran ahead of November’s midterm elections, citing what he said were “productive discussions” with the Islamic Republic.

“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 said in a social media post Thursday.

The president’s comments follow recent reporting that he was mulling plans to strike Iran before the midterm contests and that the White House had asked the Pentagon to prepare options for strikes beforehand.

Trump previously had said ramped-up military strikes against Iran were “possible” following the elections during an interview with Time Magazine published earlier this month.

Trump added Thursday that a US naval blockade of Iranian exports would remain in place.