Trump's War in Iran in spotlight ahead of midterms

NPR, CNN and CBS News report that President Donald Trump has pledged not to attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, tying an unpopular war to the political calendar. CNN says the Truth Social post followed media accounts of planning for new strikes, and, citing officials, adds that military planners have drawn up options covering Iranian energy and nuclear targets. Trump described talks with Tehran as productive, though CBS News notes he offered no specifics and says Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called negotiations with Washington "meaningless."

NPR's Domenico Montanaro reads the pledge as a sign Trump knows the fighting has hurt Republicans, pointing to an AP-NORC poll in which 7 in 10 disapprove of his handling of the war and to an approval average that has slid from 48% to 37%. Meanwhile, CNN reports Trump said the blockade of Iranian ports stays in force, and CNN and CBS News both describe new Treasury sanctions on 17 vessels. CBS News adds that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the goal is to deprive Tehran of money for war.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NPR, CNN and CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at NPR → Also at CNN → Also at CBS News →