President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States is not attacking Iran “in full” because of the November 3 midterm elections. He predicted the war would end after the polls, or possibly even before. (thestar)
The remarks, made in a Fox News interview, came as Republican leaders weigh the political cost of the conflict. Top aides are reportedly pushing to keep the war from escalating before the vote, to limit Republican losses. Trump is facing falling poll numbers and pressure from within his own party to end the war. (postandcourier) (sigmalive)
Fighting has not stopped. It resumed after a 60-day ceasefire formally expired last month, and the US military said it attacked five Iran-linked oil tankers. Trump has also said he is not currently seeking negotiations with Iran, though he did not rule them out. (sigmalive) (ianslive)
The economic stakes are high. Oil has climbed above $100 a barrel, and Trump has said relief will come only after the election. He first predicted the war would last only a matter of weeks; it is now in its seventh month. (ianslive) (sigmalive)
A note on the headline: it doesn’t match the reporting. Trump didn’t say the US won’t strike Iran before the midterms. He said it is holding back from a full-scale attack, and limited strikes continue. I’d suggest: “Trump Says US Holding Back Full Attack on Iran Because of Midterms.” I can adjust the length or tone, or translate it.
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