Reports Claimed Trump Could Attack Iran Before The Midterms. The President Denied It.

President Donald Trump appeared to reject reports claiming his administration is considering resuming attacks against Iran in the coming weeks, even before the midterm elections.

In a social media publication, Trump said the U.S. is having “productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran.” And that “while Iran is in very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait (22 Million Barrels, last night alone, with not one barrel coming from, or going to, Iran!), we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd.”

The reports in question claimed that Trump and his national security team discussed resuming the campaign against Tehran in the coming weeks. Axios also detailed that the Pentagon instructed the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to conclude preparations to that end.

The outlet went on to cite sources familiar with the matter, who said that if the campaign resumes it will include large bombings of Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear targets.

A White House official reacted to the report saying that the U.S. “is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing.”

“Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way,” the official added.

Trump, on his end, said at a campaign rally in Texas on Wednesday that Tehran is in the brink of collapse. “I think the deal isn’t really something that I want to do, but they’re willing to offer us anything to stop,” Trump claimed.

Attacks against tankers in the Strait of Hormuz reached a record for the U.S.-Iran war last week, new data showed.

The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said in a note that the figure reached 12 in the week that ended on October 5, the highest figure since the war began in late February.

“These actions continue to demonstrate Iran’s ⁠intent to assert presence along key transit lanes and maintain pressure ​on transiting vessels,” it added.

Tehran claimed on Wednesday that the waterway will remain closed as the two countries remain far from a deal.