Trump Says U.S. Is Not Negotiating With Iran

President Donald Trump said October 21 that the United States was not negotiating with Iran and that “something” would happen fairly soon, but he did not specify what the development would be or when it might occur. His comments left open whether Washington would resume military action before the November 3 midterm elections. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump first described negotiations as continuing “a little bit,” then said the United States was not negotiating. Asked whether he would avoid striking Iran before the elections, he declined to commit, saying, “We’re gonna see what happens.” He added that many people expected a development after the vote. The White House offered a more definite assurance in a statement attributed to Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly, who told Drop Site News that the United States would not attack Iran before the midterms. That position contrasts with reporting that officials had presented Trump with strike options and that an order could come before the end of October. The supplied accounts do not establish whether a final decision has been made. Officials quoted in reporting described a possible short, intensive...