Iran Delays Talks to Undermine Trump's Election Chances, Report Says

Iran is deliberately prolonging negotiations with the United States, aiming to weaken President Donald Trump's political standing ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November, according to high-ranking Iranian officials cited by Reuters. Tehran is reportedly in no hurry to reach a ceasefire agreement due to deep distrust of Washington and fears that the U.S. and Israel might resume military actions. Iranian authorities believe the U.S. president could initiate new strikes to break the diplomatic stalemate. One senior official stated that Iran is preparing for further attacks from the U.S. and Israel, rather than a deal with Washington, and intends to prevent a political victory for Trump. Tehran-based analyst Said Leylaz also believes that delaying the negotiation process could impact the upcoming U.S. elections, suggesting Iran can achieve this goal without resorting to illegal actions. The conflict, which reportedly began in February after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, has already negatively affected Trump's approval ratings. Amidst the conflict, concerns over high gasoline prices are growing in the U.S., potentially increasing voter dissatisfaction with the Republican Party before the November 3 vote. Consequently, the prolonged confrontation with Iran is becoming not only a foreign policy issue for Trump but also a factor in his domestic struggle for political influence. Iran's Foreign Ministry and the White House did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Tensions have recently escalated across Iran, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and Judea and Samaria, a week before the elections.