U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Washington could resume large-scale strikes on Iran after the November midterm elections, while rejecting Tehran’s latest ceasefire proposal. In an interview with TIME published on October 2, 2026, Trump said the possibility of intensifying the bombing campaign after the elections was “possible,” and that the U.S. had spent the past six months replenishing its weapons stockpiles.

Trump said he turned down Iran’s latest offer because its terms were “not good enough,” adding that conditions acceptable a year ago were insufficient after months of fighting. The comments came as diplomatic efforts remained deadlocked following talks between an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. representatives on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The breakdown highlighted deep mistrust, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly demanding the Iranian delegation leave the United States immediately after negotiations stalled. Simultaneously, the Trump administration announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s rail and automotive sectors and their foreign suppliers, intensifying economic pressure on Tehran.