US President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections scheduled for November 3. In a post on his Truth Social network on Thursday evening, Trump said: "We are having constructive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran," adding that there "will be no attack on Iran before the US midterm elections on November 3."
Oil prices fell in early Friday trading as concerns about Middle East supply eased somewhat, after tensions in the energy-rich Gulf region had mounted in recent weeks. The prospect of renewed conflict had been cited as a factor pushing crude higher in Thursday's session. Some analysts said Trump's remarks may have been aimed at cooling oil prices.
Iran reviewing US response
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is reviewing the US response to Iran's seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and that Iran would deliver its reply within "the next few days." He added that talks were continuing through intermediaries, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.
Large explosions at Hormuz
Iranian media reported "large explosions" south of the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. The Fars news agency, citing an unnamed military source, said oil tankers using an "unauthorized" route may have struck mines.
Earlier, on Tuesday, US Vice President JD Vance said Iran must significantly scale back its uranium enrichment capacity as part of a deal to end the war. Experts said the demand could signal that Washington is softening its earlier position of requiring Tehran to abandon uranium enrichment entirely.
On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said negotiations with Washington were "useless," accusing the United States of using talks as cover to attack Iran. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Pezeshkian that Russia would "do everything" to help end the US-led war against Iran, according to Russian news agencies on Thursday.
