The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Thursday, October 8, that Washington will not launch attacks against Iran before the legislative elections on November 3, although he warned that the U.S. blockade will remain in effect and reiterated that he will not allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
In a message posted on Truth Social, the president assured that his government is having "productive conversations" with the Islamic Republic. "I want to make it clear to everyone [...] that we will not attack Iran at any time before the midterm elections in the United States on November 3," he stated.
The statement establishes an explicit time limit on a possible new U.S. offensive, but it does not equate to a peace agreement nor does it signify the end of the conflict. Trump also did not rule out military operations after election day. The Associated Press also reported on the announcement and the continuation of diplomatic efforts.
Trump maintains pressure on Iran despite the announcement
The president made it clear that the decision not to attack before November does not imply a lifting of the naval and economic blockade that Washington maintains over Iran. "The blockade will remain fully in effect," he stated in his post, in which he described the military and economic situation of the Islamic Republic as very deteriorated.
Trump also stated that during the previous night 22 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz and that none came from Iran or were destined for that country. These are figures reported by the president that have not been independently verified in this information.
The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global hydrocarbon trade, continues to be one of the main points of friction. Attacks against vessels and transit restrictions have heightened concerns about energy supply. According to The Guardian, citing maritime security sources, new incidents against tankers in the region have been reported in recent days.
The announcement comes after reports of possible new bombings
Trump's clarification came after U.S. media reported military preparations for a possible resumption of bombings against Iranian territory. Axios noted that the Pentagon had asked the U.S. Central Command to complete operational options, although there was no definitive date for their execution.
The announcement contrasts with the tone used by the president just a few days prior. On October 4, Trump warned that he would make a decision on Iran "the easy way or the hard way", amid the stagnation of diplomatic talks and tensions over the nuclear program.
The explicit reference to November 3 adds an electoral dimension to the message. On that day, Americans will renew the entire House of Representatives and part of the Senate, while the war and its effects on energy prices are part of the internal political debate. CiberCuba previously reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard called on American voters to punish the Republican Party in that election.
Open conversations, but without a peace agreement
The new statement also comes hours after the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, announced that Tehran plans to respond in the coming days to Washington's remarks regarding its latest proposal to end the war.
As CiberCuba reported this Thursday, the Iranian initiative outlines measures to facilitate the reopening of Hormuz and ease tensions. However, disagreements remain regarding restrictions on the nuclear program, the blockade, and the conditions for a potential agreement.
Trump concluded his message with a warning in uppercase: “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon!” For now, the commitment announced by the White House is limited to not initiating new attacks against Iran before the elections on November 3, while Washington maintains pressure on Tehran and diplomatic contacts remain open.
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