US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections on 3 November.
In a social media post, Trump said the US “will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections”. He said his team was “having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier on Thursday that he expected Tehran to give a formal reply to a US counterproposal within days.
The US and Iran signed an interim agreement in June meant to set up a 60-day ceasefire, but it collapsed within weeks amid renewed fighting and disputes over the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, about one-fifth of the world’s oil passed through the strait.
Ship traffic through the strait remains well below prewar levels, according to the facts reported, and Iran has stepped up attacks on tankers in recent days. For Sri Lanka, which imports its fuel, disruption to Gulf shipping can affect fuel prices and supply.
The next step is Iran’s expected reply to the US counterproposal.
