Trump says U.S. won't attack Iran before midterms

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he would not order military strikes against Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, despite previous threats to escalate the conflict. This announcement came as the Pentagon had reportedly instructed U.S. Central Command to prepare for potential combat operations. Trump claimed that negotiations with Iran were productive and that Iran was in poor economic and military condition, emphasizing that oil flowed through the Strait of Hormuz at record volumes without Iranian involvement. The president’s statement also reassured Americans about his stance on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The news positively impacted stock markets but remains uncertain as a Reuters/Ipsos survey indicated only one-third of Americans supported strikes against Iran, with 80% expecting the conflict to continue for an extended period.