Donald Trump pledges no attacks on Iran before midterms

Donald Trump said the United States would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. He linked the pledge to discussions he described as productive, without announcing a final agreement.

The statement appeared on Truth Social on October 8 and was reported by Al Jazeera on October 9. Oil prices rose on Thursday amid concern about renewed fighting and declined early Friday. Some analysts viewed Trump's remarks as an attempt to ease pressure on prices.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was reviewing the U.S. response to its seven-day plan to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He said Iran expected to reply within days and negotiations continued through mediators.

Iranian media separately reported large explosions in the southern strait. Fars cited unnamed military sources suggesting tankers on unauthorized routes may have struck sea mines. That remains the sources' explanation rather than an independently established cause.

On October 6, JD Vance said an agreement should include a meaningful reduction in Iran's uranium enrichment capacity. Experts cited by Al Jazeera viewed that wording as a possible softening of the earlier demand to abandon enrichment entirely.

A day earlier, Masoud Pezeshkian called talks with Washington futile and accused the United States of using negotiations to attack Iran. Russian agencies reported on October 8 that Vladimir Putin pledged to help end the war. Trump's election-period pledge does not itself settle disagreements over the nuclear program or shipping.