President Donald Trump said the US will not launch attacks against Iran before the midterm elections in early November. The statement follows a report that Trump ordered the military to prepare for resuming high-intensity combat operations against Iran.

“I want to make it clear to everybody that, while Iran is in very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait (22 Million Barrels, last night alone, with not one barrel coming from, or going to, Iran!), we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd,” the President wrote on Truth Social Thursday. 

The post came after Axios reported that a US official said troops in the Middle East were ordered several days ago to conclude preparations for resuming major combat operations against Iran.

The outlet noted that Trump had not made any final decision on attacking Iran. US and Israeli sources told the outlet that operations could resume at any time, including before the Israeli elections on October 27. 

“The US is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing. Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way,” the official told Axios. “President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States.”

In his Truth Social post, Trump said the US was engaged in “productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

However, ongoing negotiations are not a sign that the US or Israel will not attack Iran. Washington and Tehran were engaged in nuclear negotiations before Israel launched the 12-Day War in June 2025 and before the US and Israel attacked Iran in February 2026.