Iranian president says country wants deal with US made before midterms

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that Tehran is willing to strike a deal with the U.S. before the November midterms, pushing back on President Trump’s claim that the regime is waiting until after Americans hit the polls to settle the conflict.

“We don’t want it to get to the midterm elections,” Pezeshkian told reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

He called for the U.S. to return to a memorandum of understanding reached in June that set the framework for a temporary ceasefire, before it ultimately fell apart.

Pezeshkian’s remarks directly counter Trump’s prediction that a deal between the U.S. and Iran could be reached after the fall elections.

“They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election,” Trump said in a speech to world leaders at the U.N.

The White House responded to Pezeshkian’s comments by criticizing Iran’s conduct during the war.

“The Iranian regime has murdered thousands of its own people, killed Americans overseas, executed acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, and launched indiscriminate attacks against its neighbors in the region,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement to NBC News.

“The President is courageously ensuring that such an evil country never possesses a nuclear weapon, which will make the entire world safer and more stable,” she added.

Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held lengthy indirect talks with Iranian officials Tuesday during the U.N. gathering.

Witkoff later said he hoped the discussions would prove “constructive and promising” in securing a path to end the more than six-month conflict.

Trump, meanwhile, has continued to threaten further military action if Iran refuses to reach an agreement over its nuclear program. He told world leaders that Tehran could make a deal or face “annihilation.”

Pezeshkian rejected that pressure in his own U.N. address Wednesday, saying Iran would not surrender or abandon its nuclear program.

“We will never bow our head or bend at the knee,” he said.

But Pezeshkian also suggested Iran remained willing to negotiate, provided it was not forced to do so under threat.