WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump suggested he may not resume military strikes against Iran after the U.S. midterm elections, indicating a potential shift toward diplomatic solutions after weeks of threats. Trump told reporters on Monday he was considering 'no' regarding strikes after the elections, though he emphasized that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon.
The remarks follow a phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, during which Netanyahu pressed for immediate resumption of strikes after the vote, while Trump expressed preference for continuing diplomatic negotiations. Axios reported the Israeli source described the call as 'tough,' while the U.S. source characterized it as 'direct.'
Trump's position reflects internal administration debate. Vice President JD Vance reported 'a number of good conversations with the Iranians,' while Iranian negotiators were in Doha on Sunday for a third consecutive day of talks with Qatari mediators aimed at pushing for a deal to end the conflict. Trump said he believed Iran wanted to make a deal and that such an agreement 'could happen.'
The president also cited the suspected nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain as a target the U.S. could strike within minutes, adding that previous operations had wiped out first and second-level Iranian leaders who had asked the U.S. to stop. Trump referenced the Iran conflict as a leading cause of high gasoline prices weighing on voters ahead of the elections.
Trump stressed his bottom-line demand: 'We're not going to allow Iran ever to have a nuclear weapon.' He indicated the U.S. had already significantly degraded Iranian leadership capabilities and suggested diplomatic channels remained the preferred path forward, though he kept military options on the table.
