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Trump says US is 'not negotiating' with Iran ahead of midterms

Trump said "most people seem to think it's after the election", a reference to the November 3 midterms. The New York Times, citing US officials, reports US-Israeli plans for renewed strikes; it is not certain Trump will approve any strike.

By Rowan Ashby Published 22.10.26 06:45 UTC 5 min read

File photo from 2018 of Donald Trump speaking with reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One — Trump White House Archived / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain · Source

Key takeaways

US President Donald Trump said the United States is "not negotiating" with Iran and that "something one way or the other" will happen "fairly soon", according to The Times of Israel and Anadolu Agency.
Trump added that "most people seem to think it's after the election", a reference to the US midterm elections on November 3, 2026.
The New York Times reported, citing US officials, that US and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the midterms. The White House said it does not comment on military plans; it is not certain Trump will approve any strike.
Iranian state media reported several explosions in the Karpan area of Sirik, on Iran's southern coast, late on October 21. The cause has not been confirmed, and no link to the US or Israel has been established.

Trump says US not negotiating with Iran: what happened

Donald Trump says the US is "not negotiating" with Iran and that "something one way or the other" will happen "fairly soon". Speaking on October 21, US Eastern time, he added that "most people seem to think it's after the election".

The Times of Israel reported at 05:12 UTC that Trump made the remarks to a reporter before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews. Anadolu Agency, in a report republished by ANews early on October 22, said he spoke to reporters around the South Carolina rally. Both outlets carry the same core quotes.

Asked whether talks were under way, Trump said, according to Anadolu: "No, I think we're not negotiating." He went on to say the US would "have something one way or the other that'll happen fairly soon", and added: "Most people seem to think it's after the election, and we're going to see what happens."

At the rally itself, Anadolu reported, Trump said of the war, "It'll end very soon," and that the US "could leave now" but wanted any outcome to last. He also repeated that Iran would never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.

Post by Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_), NewsNation White House correspondent, published October 22, 2026, 03:17 UTC: view the post on X.

Timeline (UTC)

Date and time	Development	Source
Feb 28, 2026	US and Israel begin strikes on Iran	Anadolu Agency; The Times of Israel
June 2026	US-Iran agreement reached (described by Anadolu as a memorandum of understanding mediated by Pakistan and Qatar); it later stalled	Anadolu Agency; Al Jazeera
Oct 8, 2026	Trump posts that the US will not attack Iran before the November 3 midterms	Al Jazeera; The Times of Israel
Oct 21, 2026 (late, local time)	Iranian state agency IRNA reports several explosions in Karpan, Sirik; cause not disclosed	AFP via The Times of Israel
Oct 22, 2026, 03:17	NewsNation reporter posts Trump's "not negotiating" remarks	X post by @LibbeyDean_
Oct 22, 2026, 05:12	The Times of Israel publishes the remarks alongside the New York Times strike-plan report	The Times of Israel
Nov 3, 2026	US midterm elections	Scheduled

What we know and what we don't know yet

What we know

Trump publicly said there are no current negotiations with Tehran. Two independent outlets, The Times of Israel and Anadolu Agency, report the same quotes.
The New York Times reported, citing US officials and others briefed on the discussions, that US and Israeli militaries have prepared plans for renewed strikes after the midterms. According to Anadolu's summary, the Times said it is far from certain Trump will approve them, and that he has repeatedly rejected plans to return to major combat this year.
A White House official told the Times the administration does not comment on military plans "that may or may not exist", according to Anadolu.
On October 8, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the US "will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections", as reported by Al Jazeera.

What we don't know yet

What Trump meant by "something" happening. He did not say whether he meant a military step, a deal, or another outcome.
Whether any strike plan has been approved. No US official has confirmed the plans on the record.
What caused the explosions near Sirik. IRNA said local sources had "not yet disclosed the nature of these explosions", according to AFP. The report did not mention casualties or damage.The cause has not been confirmed, and there is no verified evidence linking the blasts to US or Israeli action.
How Tehran will respond to Trump's remarks. No official Iranian response had been published at the time of writing.

Background

The conflict began on February 28, 2026, when the US and Israel struck Iran. Tehran answered with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies, according to Anadolu. An agreement reached in June later stalled, with disputes over navigation through the strait among the sticking points.

Tension in the Gulf has risen again this week. The US ordered non-emergency staff to leave its embassy in Saudi Arabia, citing Houthi attacks, and Saudi authorities reported a deadly attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Read our coverage: US orders embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia and Dammam airport attack.

The timing also overlaps with two elections. Israel's general election is scheduled for October 27, according to The Times of Israel, and the US votes on November 3. For more on the US campaign, see our explainer on early voting and protests ahead of the midterms.

The Iran comments came during a busy week of statements from the president. He urged Vivek Ramaswamy to keep airing a disputed ad in Ohio (Trump backs Ramaswamy's Acton ad), said Google turned down a request to relabel the Atlantic (the "Trump Ocean" claim), and called LeBron James a disgrace over his conduct during the national anthem (Trump's post about LeBron James). Separately, a federal magistrate judge in Miami ordered him to sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC.

What it means

Trump's remarks shift his public tone. In earlier statements he had spoken of "productive" discussions with Iran; now he says there are no talks at all. Paired with the New York Times report on strike planning, the comments suggest the period after November 3 is when Washington may take a decision, though the White House has not confirmed any plan.

For energy markets, the main question is the Strait of Hormuz. Any renewed military action, or a breakthrough deal, could affect shipping through the strait and oil prices. Our oil daily brief tracks how crude prices respond to Middle East headlines. For now, the official record contains statements of intent, not confirmed actions. Bullquill will update this story as verified information emerges.

Frequently asked questions

Is the US negotiating with Iran?

According to Trump, no. Asked whether talks were under way, he said, "No, I think we're not negotiating," according to Anadolu Agency and The Times of Israel on October 22, 2026.

Will the US strike Iran after the midterm elections?

This has not been confirmed. The New York Times reported, citing US officials, that US and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans for renewed strikes after November 3, but said it is far from certain Trump will approve them. The White House does not comment on military plans.

What caused the explosions in Sirik, Iran?

The cause has not been confirmed. Iran's state news agency IRNA reported several explosions in the Karpan area of Sirik, Hormozgan province, late on October 21 and said local sources had not disclosed their nature.