President Donald Trump said Thursday that the U.S. will not attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm election, explicitly linking the timing of potential military action to the domestic political calendar.
"We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections," Trump posted on Truth Social. He added that the U.S. was having "productive discussions" with Tehran and that a naval blockade would remain in place.
Trump's statement marks a reversal from Wednesday, when he told reporters his administration was considering renewed strikes against Tehran before the election. That comment sent Brent crude up more than 4% Thursday, climbing above $104 a barrel on escalation fears.
At a campaign rally Wednesday night, Trump had said a deal with Iran was "not really something that I wanted to do." His Thursday post adopted a more diplomatic tone, reiterating that Tehran would not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon but emphasizing ongoing talks.
The shift comes as early voting in midterm ballots is underway and public appetite for military action against Iran has weakened. An August Reuters/Ipsos poll found just 31% of Americans supported U.S. military action against Iran, down from 37% in March. In the same poll, 83% of respondents expected the conflict to be prolonged.