Trump says US won't attack Iran before midterm election

Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Bloomberg News on Oct 8, 2026

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President Donald Trump said the U.S. would not attack Iran ahead of November’s midterm elections, citing what he said were “productive discussions” with the Islamic Republic.

“We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd,” Trump said in a social media post Thursday.

The president’s comments amounted to an unusual blending of U.S. national security issues and domestic politics. They follow recent reporting in The Atlantic that he was mulling plans to strike Iran before the midterm contests and that the White House had asked the Pentagon to prepare options for strikes beforehand.

Trump said in an interview with Time Magazine published earlier this month that ramped-up military strikes against Iran were “possible” following the elections.

Trump has suggested Iran was waiting to see how his Republican Party would do during the midterms. But in September, he explicitly dismissed the relevance of the vote when it came to the Iran war.

“I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran,” Trump said. “It doesn’t even enter my mind.”

In his Thursday post, the president did not offer any details about the discussions he said were happening with Iran. Talks have remained deadlocked over a host of issues including control of the vital Strait of Hormuz. The president rejected an Iranian offer after holding discussions via mediators during United Nations meetings in September.

Trump has repeatedly cited productive or ongoing diplomatic talks with Iran without any results. He’s also repeatedly threatened military escalation against Tehran, sometimes without ordering new attacks.

Trump added Thursday that a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian exports would remain in place.

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With assistance from Iain Marlow.

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