Trump says US could resume airstrikes on Iran after midterm elections
President Donald Trump says the United States could resume airstrikes on Iran after the midterm elections, while insisting Tehran wants a deal but its ceasefire proposal falls far short of Washington’s terms.
US President Donald Trump has left open the possibility of renewed airstrikes on Iran after the congressional midterm elections, saying Tehran wants an agreement but that Washington is seeking what he called a “real deal.”
Trump made the remarks in an interview with TIME, as military pressure and indirect negotiations over a possible ceasefire continue.
Could strikes resume after the elections?
Asked whether he was considering further strikes, Trump declined to disclose military plans, arguing that answering such a question could reveal where the United States might attack.
He nevertheless did not rule out renewed military action. Trump said Iran wants an agreement, but maintained that any settlement would have to meet Washington’s conditions rather than amount to a temporary arrangement.
The comments follow earlier reporting that Trump rejected an Iranian ceasefire proposal. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the administration has kept the option of renewed bombing after the November elections on the table.
Trump points to strikes on nuclear facilities
Trump said the United States could have stopped after striking Iranian nuclear facilities, but argued that doing so would not have been sufficient because he believed Iran intended to continue its activities, either at the targeted sites or elsewhere.
He said he chose to “go further” because he did not want Iran to rebuild its program in another form.
Asked about earlier remarks in which he threatened to destroy Iran, Trump said that remained “possible.” He also portrayed the military campaign as part of his effort to secure peace. Those statements reflect Trump’s own justification for US policy and are not an independent assessment of the war’s consequences.
Ceasefire proposal rejected
Trump also confirmed his rejection of Iran’s ceasefire proposal, saying it was not good enough and did not come close to the terms sought by Washington.
The interview comes ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3. US reporting in September indicated that an escalation of military operations after the vote remained under consideration, although no final decision had been announced at that stage.
Read also: Trump reveals three hours of Iran negotiations as Witkoff says mediators shuttled between delegations in New York
Trump reveals US-Iran contacts held today: We are moving toward a settlement as Tehran puts Hormuz on the table
