Trump says the US is not negotiating with Iran and expects developments soon as plans for possible post-midterm strikes are reported

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington was not negotiating with Iran and that “something one way or the other” would happen “fairly soon.” He made the remarks to reporters after returning from a rally in South Carolina, adding that most people appeared to expect developments after the election and that “we’re going to see what happens.”

At the rally, Trump said the US could end its war with Iran now but wanted to ensure the outcome lasted for a long time. He said the US had defeated Iran militarily and financially and asserted that Tehran would never possess a nuclear weapon.

The New York Times reported, citing US officials and others briefed on deliberations, that the US and Israeli militaries had developed plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections. The report said it was far from certain Trump would approve the strikes, noting that he had repeatedly vetoed plans to return to major combat this year. A White House official told the newspaper that the administration does not comment on military plans that “may or may not exist.”

The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran responded with regional missile and drone attacks and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies. A memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran in June, following mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, has since stalled amid disagreements, including over navigation in the strait.