President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. would “not be attacking Iran” before November’s midterm elections, citing what he said were “productive discussions” with the Islamic Republic. The president’s comments on Thursday amounted to an unusual blending of national security issues and domestic politics. His decision to lay off on new strikes comes despite Iran escalating attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran-backed militants in Yemen attacking energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and the president’s decision to move U.S. bombers from a base in the U.K. because of possible Iran-linked threats.
The remarks follow recent reporting in the Atlantic that Trump was mulling plans to strike Iran before the midterm contests and that the White House had asked the Pentagon to prepare options. The New York Times separately reported Thursday that senior White House national security officials recently discussed plans that included an intense three-day campaign.
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