U.S. – WSJ: Trump Plans New Strikes on Iran After the Midterm Elections

WASHINGTON, September 26 (ATSH – AA) — U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian offer of a seven-day ceasefire and told associates he expects to launch new strikes after the midterm elections in November, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Friday.

The newspaper, citing officials familiar with the matter, said Iranian negotiators had presented the offer through intermediaries in Qatar, proposing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks if Washington would end the naval blockade of Iranian ports.

U.S. officials told Tehran and the intermediaries there is no plan to lift the blockade, assessing that continued economic pressure will eventually force Iran to reach a deal on Washington’s terms, the paper reported.

According to the paper, Trump has moved during the seven-month war from diplomatic efforts to military actions and pressure through sanctions, while inside the administration he has expressed doubts that Tehran will agree to dismantle its nuclear program, despite public statements that Iran is ready to reach a deal after the elections.

The paper added that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has rejected new conditions for a deal, demanding the return of several elements of the preliminary June agreement and saying it is ready for a prolonged conflict.