Trump says US will not strike Iran before midterms

President Trump said Thursday the U.S. military will not launch strikes against Iran before the midterm elections, claiming the administration is having “productive discussions” with the Islamic Republic.

“I want to make it clear to everybody that, while Iran is in very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait (22 Million Barrels, last night alone, with not one barrel coming from, or going to, Iran!), we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd,” the president wrote on Truth Social .

“IRAN WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” Trump added.

The post comes as the president has been weighing whether to resume major combat operations before the November elections.

The White House asked the Pentagon to develop strike options against Iranian targets that could be exercised before the midterms, The Atlantic reported on Wednesday.

The White House said Trump has “all options” available on what the next steps are on Iran.

“The Commander-in-Chief has all options available at any time,” a White House official told The Hill earlier Thursday. “The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing.”

“Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways; the easy way or the hard way. President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States,” the official said.

The U.S. and Iran’s diplomatic progress has stalled as the war reached well into its seventh month.

Tehran is facing economic strains as the Trump administration has continued its economic pressure campaign and naval blockade in the Arabian Sea. But the Iranian military has continued striking commercial tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting energy exports.

The musing over potentially authorizing strikes against Iran comes as the Trump administration has surged more U.S. forces to the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) region.

The Pentagon dispatched more than 4,000 Marines and sailors aboard three warships, led by USS Makin Island, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, to Centcom theater.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, is sailing toward the Middle East to relieve the USS George Washington.

Oil prices also surged amid reports of Iran strikes before the November elections.

Brent crude went up to $104.60 per barrel on Thursday and West Texas Intermediate jumped 3.91 percent and was at $92.19 per barrel.