Trump said the United States will not attack Iran before the midterms.

WASHINGTON — President Trump said Thursday that the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections on Nov. 3. “We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he wrote. “We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd.” CNN reported that he also said the blockade of Iranian ports “will remain in full force and effect.”

The war began in February, when the United States and Israel struck Iran. Reuters reported that the two sides have exchanged proposals to end the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and that Trump rejected Tehran’s latest offer. Iran’s state media said Thursday that Tehran would not abandon uranium enrichment or hand over its uranium stockpile. About 60 percent of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling Iran, Reuters reported, including one in four Republicans. The New York Times reported that the military is still drawing options for a short campaign even as the president set the election as the line.

We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections.

The photograph shows Trump seated at a table, hands clasped, flags behind him. It is the plate filed for this front. The pause itself was a post. The Politics desk files the calendar. The hurricane is on the states page. The two-day toll is on the war page.