A leftist publication only hours earlier had claimed, citing “administration officials,” that the White House had asked the Pentagon to propose strike options against Iranian targets that could be launched before the midterm elections just weeks from now.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump fixed that report.
“We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd. IRAN WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!” Trump posted on social media.
It was The Atlantic that had claimed its sources were telling it about a plan to develop strike options.
The publication said, “The White House has asked the Pentagon to develop strike options against Iranian targets that could be exercised ahead of the midterms.”
A White House official soon told Fox, “The Commander-in-Chief has all options available at any time. The United States 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.”
“We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran. I want to make it clear to everybody 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. IRAN WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON! President DONALD J. TRUMP” the president posted.
Only hours before, Trump had posted on social media a chart showing oil operations, impacted by the war with Iran and its closure for a time of the Strait of Hormuz, was back at pre-war levels.
The Atlantic had claimed that while “the United States hasn’t struck Iran in several weeks,” that period of “relative tranquility” could be over soon.
It claimed the “planning” by the Pentagon, “underscores just how much the president wants to reduce gas prices and demonstrate progress in the conflict before the vote, administration officials told us.”
It claimed, “The plans are being developed by U.S. Central Command, which is coordinating the war effort, a U.S. official told us. Even the plans’ advocates acknowledge that limited strikes would not, by themselves, bring Iran to the negotiating table, restore safe travel through the Strait of Hormuz, or lower gas prices before Election Day. But those in favor believe that further action after months of uneasy peace could allow Trump to demonstrate strength and potentially declare some sort of victory, giving Republicans much-needed momentum heading into the election.”
The publication’s sources were not identified.
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[ H/T WorldNetDaily ]
