Trump says US will not strike Iran before November midterm elections

US President Donald Trump said he would not order the resumption of strikes on Iran before November 3, when the country holds its midterm elections. His statement followed reports that the Pentagon had prepared plans for new attacks.

Axios, citing US and Israeli officials, reported that US Central Command had been instructed to prepare for major combat operations. The Atlantic published similar claims, while The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported on possible plans citing unnamed officials.

Trump also said the United States was holding “productive discussions” with Iran, but gave no details about their status and made no reference to military preparations. The US previously launched its first attacks on February 28 while talks were still under way.

War losing support among voters

The decision to avoid an attack before the election may reflect the war’s unpopularity in the United States. A Pew Research Center poll released on Thursday found that 65% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the conflict.

The war has entered its eighth month, although Trump initially said it would last only a few weeks. The poll also found that most Americans believe the conflict will continue for at least another year.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 30% of Trump supporters were enthusiastic about voting in the midterms, compared with 48% of Democratic voters. About 13% of people who voted for Trump in 2024 said they were unsure whom to support in the congressional elections.

US forces prepare for possible attacks

Last week, the United States sent about 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines to the Middle East aboard several ships, including the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group. The deployment raised the number of US troops in the region to 20,000, alongside hundreds of aircraft and at least three carrier strike groups.

Trump has previously suggested that bombing could intensify after the elections and said the war could end immediately afterwards. Analysts say the election result could affect his decision, but the source does not confirm that new strikes have been authorised.

In June, Washington and Iran signed a ceasefire agreement that quickly collapsed over control of the Strait of Hormuz. The United States rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the strait on conditions including lifting sanctions, unfreezing Iranian assets and guaranteeing an end to attacks.