Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday at a regional summit in Turkmenistan that peace negotiations will only succeed without "pressure and threats,” with the months-long Middle East war locked in a stalemate. "Dialogue holds meaning and a chance of success only when based on mutual respect and mutual commitments, and when devoid of pressure and threat," he said during his speech at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit. President Donald Trump ruled out Thursday attacking Iran before the US midterms on November 3, saying Washington was holding "productive discussions" with Tehran. "I want to make it clear to everybody that, while Iran is in very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect...we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections," he wrote. "We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran," he added. The Atlantic magazine reported on Wednesday that the White House had asked the Pentagon to develop options to strike Iranian targets that could be used before the midterms. The New York Times said Thursday the plans were being developed despite Trump's "ambivalence."
