U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump had not decided whether to order further military action against Iran, a conflict with stakes for a major oil-shipping route, ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections.
At a Group of 20 press availability in Atlanta on Oct. 31, Rubio said Trump had no decision to announce. He said the president believed the United States had the resources to meet its military objectives if needed, while favoring a diplomatic solution. “He hasn’t made a decision,” Rubio said.
Rubio said communications with Iran had continued through a mix of direct exchanges and intermediaries. He declined to characterize progress or give a timeframe. Any agreement, he said, would have to address U.S. security concerns, particularly Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi gave a different account of the contact channels. The Associated Press reported that he told the outlet no direct talks with the United States were underway, despite Rubio’s statement that some contacts had been direct.
The AP cited two Iranian officials who said a mediator continued carrying messages between Washington and Tehran after the Iranian delegation ended several days of discussions in Qatar. Reuters, citing an official briefed on the talks, reported that the team left Doha on Sunday, Nov. 1, and another meeting was possible.
An earlier EconoTimes report citing Walla said some Israeli officials considered a U.S. strike before the vote unlikely, unless intelligence pointed to an imminent Iranian attack.
The AP also reported that U.S. officials had told several Middle Eastern countries and regional allies to prepare for possible renewed strikes after the election and possible Iranian retaliation. Rubio did not announce a military plan.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major energy-shipping route. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that crude oil and petroleum liquids passing through it averaged 21.6 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with 4.9 million in the second quarter of 2026.
The U.S. midterm elections are scheduled for Nov. 3; Rubio gave no date for further talks.
