ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Washington is holding “very productive” talks with Tehran, United States President Donald Trump said Thursday, noting that his country will not be carrying out military operations against Iran “any time prior” to the early November midterm elections in the US.
“We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, adding, “We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd.”
“Iran is in very bad condition, both economically and militarily,” he added, noting that the blockade on Iranian ports “will remain in full force and effect.”
The remarks come despite President Trump saying Tuesday that Washington must “finish up” its campaign against Iran.
Meanwhile, the American website Axios on Thursday cited US officials as saying that “the Pentagon instructed US Central Command several days ago to conclude preparations for resuming major combat operations in Iran.”
“The directive didn't include a specific date for launching strikes, and President Trump hasn't made any final decisions,” the outlet reported, adding that “US and Israeli sources say it could happen before the US midterm elections [in November] and possibly the Israeli elections a week earlier.”
For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said his country could respond to the latest US proposal within days, as indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington continue through mediators.
“The negotiation process continues and messages are being exchanged through intermediaries,” Araghchi told a press conference, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
He added, “We presented our proposal under the title of a seven-day plan and heard the views of the Americans in return; we are currently reviewing them, and I think we will respond within a few days.”
The latest round of negotiations between the two sides began in late September, when an Iranian delegation attended the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
On the sidelines of the assembly, Araghchi met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and presented an initial proposal that included lifting the US blockade on Iranian southern ports and releasing frozen Iranian funds in exchange for reopening the contentious Strait of Hormuz within seven days as talks progressed.
Before leaving New York, the Iranian diplomat said he hoped to receive a US response to the proposal by Tuesday.
However, Trump told Rudaw on Saturday that he had rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days.
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