Trump Says US Could Resume Large - Scale Strikes on Iran After Midterms

US President Donald Trump has said Washington could resume large-scale strikes against Iran after the November midterm elections, while rejecting Tehran’s latest ceasefire proposal as insufficient, according to an interview with TIME published on Thursday.

Asked whether the United States could intensify its bombing campaign against Iran after the midterm elections, Trump replied, “Possible.” He declined to disclose potential targets but said the US had spent the past six months replenishing its weapons stockpiles.

Trump said he rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal because its terms were “not good enough.” He added that conditions he might have accepted a year ago were no longer sufficient after months of fighting, saying Tehran was seeking a deal while Washington wanted a broader agreement.

The comments came amid stalled diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. An Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with US representatives on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

US officials had previously indicated that the discussions could make progress, but the negotiations later reached an impasse.

The breakdown underscored the deep mistrust between the two sides. Following the failure of the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly demanded that the Iranian delegation leave the United States immediately.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Thursday announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s rail and automotive sectors, as well as foreign suppliers linked to those industries, in another move aimed at increasing economic pressure on Tehran.

The US Treasury Department said the measures formed part of “Operation Economic Outcast,” launched on August 24 to restrict Iran’s ability to finance the war, missile development, cyber activities and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The sanctions target Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) and SAIPA Iranian Automobile Manufacturing Company (SAIPA), which the Treasury Department said account for more than 90% of Iran’s domestic automobile market.

The measures also target the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Railway Company, which provides passenger and freight services, Raja Passenger Trains Company and Sherkat-E Rah Ahan-E Khamle-O-Naghle, also known as the Railway Transportation Company, described by the Treasury as a major private freight operator.

According to the Treasury Department, US restrictions on Iranian oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have increased Tehran’s reliance on rail and road networks to transport petroleum, fertilizer, chemicals and other goods.

The latest sanctions are intended to disrupt those alternative transportation channels.

Source: CGTN | Agencies