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US President Donald Trump has ruled out launching a new attack on Iran before the upcoming midterm congressional elections, scheduled for early next month. Meanwhile, negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue amid reports of American military preparations for the potential resumption of combat operations.
Trump said on Thursday that his administration is engaged in "productive talks" with Iran, while Tehran confirmed the continuation of negotiations, indicating it would respond within days to American remarks regarding its proposal known as the "Seven-Day Plan."
Trump wrote on his "Truth Social" platform that Iran faces a very difficult situation economically and militarily, emphasizing the continuation of the blockade and noting that record amounts of oil crossed the Strait of Hormuz the previous night, according to his post.
The US President added that his country will not launch any attack on Iran before the midterm elections, reiterating that Tehran will not possess nuclear weapons.
Mediation to Grant Negotiations Additional Time
In the same context, exclusive information obtained by Al Arabiya and Al Hadath channels revealed that mediators have contacted Trump to request additional time for the diplomatic track before any potential strike against Iran, in the hope of pushing Tehran to change its position to allow progress in the negotiations.
According to the same sources, the change in tone of American statements has not yet translated into a change on the ground or a breakthrough in negotiations, while the US Central Command continues to complete military preparations in anticipation of a decision to resume operations.
The information indicated that the mediators' efforts aim to provide an additional opportunity for negotiation, while the final decision regarding any attack remains undecided.
The Seven-Day Plan and the Strait of Hormuz
Trump's statements coincided with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's confirmation of the continuation of the negotiation process between Tehran and Washington, explaining that his country is studying the American remarks on the "Seven-Day Plan."
American officials had informed the Axios website that the US Department of Defense had directed the Central Command (CENTCOM) to complete preparations for the potential resumption of extensive combat operations against Iran, without specifying a date for the start of strikes. This came at a time when Trump had not yet made a final decision regarding the resumption of military operations.
The Iranian plan includes a seven-day roadmap aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz before moving to broader negotiations with Washington. However, Trump rejected the proposal in its announced form, leading to amendments being made and it being sent back to the Iranian side.
The Strait of Hormuz holds a pivotal position in the negotiations, given its role in global trade and energy supplies. Data from the company Kpler showed that only seven cargo ships crossed the strait on Tuesday, the lowest level since July 23.
Before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, the strait saw the passage of approximately 125 large commercial vessels daily, from oil and gas tankers to bulk carriers and container ships, while the supplies passing through it represented about one-fifth of global supplies of crude oil and liquefied natural gas.
