Iran’s president says Tehran wants a deal with U.S. before midterm elections

Key Points:

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed willingness to negotiate a deal with the U.S. to end the war before the November midterm elections, referencing a previously collapsed memorandum of understanding for a temporary ceasefire.
• White House spokesperson Anna Kelly rejected Iran’s overture, highlighting Iran’s history of violence and terrorism, and reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
• President Trump indicated he expects a deal with Iran after the midterms, suggesting the regime is waiting to see election outcomes before negotiating, while polls show low public approval of his handling of the Iran conflict.
• Pezeshkian revealed he has met twice with Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership after his father’s assassination in an Israeli attack, and reported no visible health issues despite previous severe injuries.
• The Iranian president stated his government is open to nuclear inspections and denied any intent to assassinate President Trump, countering U.S. charges of an Iranian plot targeting Trump and other critics of the regime.