Trump: US won't strike Iran before midterms — SkimNews
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- Trump posted on Truth Social late Thursday that the US is having "productive discussions" with Iran and will not attack before the November 3 midterm elections.
- Oil prices fell in early Friday trading after Trump's comments eased Middle East supply concerns that had mounted in recent weeks; some analysts believe the statement was an attempt to bring prices back down.
- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is reviewing the US response to its seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and will respond within the "next few days," with negotiations continuing through mediators.
- Iranian media reported "massive explosions" in the southern Strait of Hormuz on Friday, with Fars citing unnamed military sources saying tankers on "unauthorised" routes may have struck sea mines.
- US Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that Iran must make a "meaningful" reduction in uranium enrichment capacity — a demand experts say may signal softening from Washington's earlier insistence Tehran abandon enrichment altogether.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that negotiations with Washington were "futile," accusing the US of using talks as cover to attack Iran.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin told Pezeshkian on Thursday that Russia will "do everything" to help end the US-led war on Iran, per Russian news agencies.
Why it matters: Trump's election-timed de-escalation announcement immediately cut oil prices and gave Iran a diplomatic opening, but Pezeshkian's simultaneous dismissal of talks as "futile" and fresh Hormuz explosions show the underlying conflict remains active — leaving markets and mediators guessing whether this is real diplomacy or a pre-election pause.
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