Trump says US will not strike Iran before midterm elections

What the report says

United States President Donald Trump said late Thursday that the US will not strike Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. In a post on Truth Social, he also said Washington and Tehran were engaged in “productive discussions,” according to Al Jazeera. The statement came amid heightened tension over the conflict involving Iran and speculation in markets that US military action could be imminent.

Al Jazeera reported that oil prices fell on Friday after Trump’s remarks, as concerns about wider disruption to Middle East energy supplies eased somewhat. The article said prices had risen earlier when the prospect of renewed fighting appeared to intensify. Some analysts cited by the outlet viewed Trump’s comments as a possible effort to calm markets, though no direct confirmation of that motive was given.

The report also noted that Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran was reviewing the US response to a seven-day proposal related to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and would respond within days. Iran’s Tasnim news agency said negotiations were continuing through mediators. Separately, Iranian media reported explosions in the Strait of Hormuz, while US Vice President JD Vance said Iran would need a meaningful reduction in uranium enrichment as part of any deal to end the war. These developments underscore how diplomacy, shipping lanes and energy prices remain closely linked in the crisis.