Trump rules out Iran strike in run-up to midterm elections.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US will not launch attacks on Iran before the presidential midterm elections on November 3, calling the US-Iran talks productive discussions.

Trump wrote the message on his Truth Social platform after prices of oil products jumped due to reports that the White House was considering attacking Iran before the elections. “I want it to be known to all, that although Iran is in very bad shape BOTH financially and militarily and THE BLOCKADE will continue to be in full force and effect, we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections,” he wrote. “We are having very productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The Atlantic noted on Wednesday that the White House had directed the Pentagon to prepare options for attacking Iranian targets that could be used before the elections. The New York Times reported on Thursday that the options were being considered despite Trump’s ambivalence about them.

Oil prices climbed due to geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route, and the ongoing conflict with Iran’s allies in Yemen. The cost of Brent North Sea crude oil, the international standard, hit a peak of $105.88 a barrel on Thursday before slipping to $104.28.

The increase in fuel prices is politically damaging to the President because voters are angry about the high prices. Gas prices in the US jumped after the attacks by US-Israeli forces on Iran on February 28, which sparked the current conflict.

Putin says Russia will do its part. In addition to the issues with Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he will do everything possible to bring an end to the Middle East conflict after meeting with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian before a regional meeting in Turkmenistan. “I believe it is important to do everything possible to bring peace to the region,” Putin said. “Russia is ready to make its contribution to ending the war, and we commend Iran for its efforts to find a way out of the current impasse,” Russian news outlets reported his words.

Russia and Iran have formed a strategic partnership after Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of 2022. The two nations’ ties continue to grow stronger.

Iran’s position

During the talks with Putin, President Pezeshkian said, according to Iranian media outlets, that Iran is interested in continuing consultations, but criticized the US for attacking Iran during previous negotiations. “Every time we negotiate with the United States, they attack us again,” he said, noting that Tehran was eager to adopt a framework for ending the war. “They should understand that the unilateral approach will not lead to a solution,” he claimed.

Domestic situation and elections

The November 3 elections will decide who will control Congress for the last two years of Trump’s presidential term. While Trump is not running for office, he is holding rallies to rally Republicans. The White House is concerned about the possibility of a Democratic victory in the House of Representatives, with Trump claiming that such an outcome would lead to a wave of investigations and possibly a third impeachment.

Clarification of controversial rhetoric

On Thursday, Trump tried to respond to criticism of his remarks at a rally earlier this week suggesting that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego. He claimed that “fake and artificial news” was distorting his words, adding that he argued that a temporary increase in gasoline prices was a small price to pay for preventing Iran from developing a nuclear program. “In reality, what I was saying was that a temporary increase in the price of Gasoline is a small price to pay for Iran not having a Nuclear Weapon and, if you want to see a big price, can you imagine what it would be like if they bombed San Diego or Los Angeles?” he wrote on Truth Social.

Source: https://punchng.com/trump-rules-out-new-iran-attack-before-us-midterm-elections-2/