President Donald Trump announced that the United States is engaging in productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran. In a post on Truth Social, the president stated that the U.S. will not launch an attack or resume strikes on the country before the midterm congressional elections on November 3.
This announcement follows reports that the president and his national security team have discussed the possibility of resuming large-scale military operations in the coming weeks. Trump has acknowledged that he occasionally uses public statements regarding military planning and negotiations to keep adversaries off guard.
The decision comes as support for the conflict falls and the war pushes oil and gas prices higher. High grocery and gas prices have become top concerns for voters ahead of the elections. Meanwhile, oil shipments have slowed in the face of Iranian attacks, following a period where the president had celebrated restored flows.