Trump Rules Out Iran Attack Before Midterms

President Donald Trump said the United States is holding productive discussions with Iran and will not attack before the November 3 midterm elections, while maintaining an economic blockade of Iranian ports. His pledge came amid reports that the Pentagon was preparing for possible renewed strikes on Iranian nuclear and energy targets; Israel warned an attack could provoke retaliation and disrupt its October election. Washington and Tehran have exchanged proposals to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Trump rejected Iran’s latest offer, and Vice President JD Vance said Tehran must take meaningful steps to curb uranium enrichment. Trump said the United States would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and predicted the conflict would end soon and oil and gas prices would fall. The war, energy costs and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have become political concerns for Republicans ahead of the elections.