The US president claims that “productive talks” are under way with Iranian counterparts.
Trump also denies reports from sources at or close to the White House warning that US military action could resume in the near future.
"I want to be clear . . we will not attack Iran at any time before the midterm elections," Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social on Thursday evening.
Evaluating proposals
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said an Iranian counteroffer to a US proposal would come in the next few days. Iran is evaluating the proposal, according to the foreign minister:
The negotiation process is continuing and messages are being exchanged through mediators, Araghchi said, according to Iranian state media.
At the UN General Assembly in New York at the end of September, Araghchi and the Iranian delegation proposed a week-long ceasefire. Iran would allow trade through the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifted some sanctions and made frozen Iranian assets available.
Election speeches about agreements
Trump initially said no publicly, but it was unclear whether that meant the talks were over. At a campaign rally on Wednesday, he claimed that his envoy Steve Witkoff had continued to negotiate and was doing “very well.”
"A deal is probably not really what I want, but they are prepared to give us anything to stop it," Trump told a Republican audience, according to American media.
