Trump Says No Iran Strikes Before Midterms

President Donald Trump said the United States would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, while saying talks were productive and the U.S. blockade would remain in force; he did not rule out strikes afterward. The Pentagon has reportedly ordered preparations for major combat operations that could target Iranian energy, infrastructure and nuclear sites, though Trump has made no final decision. Vice President JD Vance says any deal to end the seven-month war must include a meaningful reduction in Iran’s uranium-enrichment capacity, while Washington and Tehran remain far apart and negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz continue. Iran has warned it could launch preemptive strikes, and reports say its intelligence may be targeting U.S. bases in Germany; British authorities are investigating a suspected attack at RAF Fairford, with Iran’s alleged role unconfirmed. The conflict and blockade are pressuring Iran’s economy, unsettling energy markets and keeping fuel costs high, while opposition to the war in the United States is substantial.