Donald Trump has stated that he will not order an attack on Iran ahead of the midterm elections, though US-Iran negotiations have yet to yield any tangible breakthroughs.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will not bomb Iran before the midterm elections, but the U.S. is evacuating some non-essential personnel from Saudi Arabia, reducing troops at some Middle East bases, and deploying additional aircraft carriers and amphibious forces. Israeli military sources reported that dozens of fighter jets approached Iran's border this week before turning back, and its strike target list is also being updated. The U.S. State Department has ordered the evacuation of only non-emergency government employees and their families in Saudi Arabia, citing attacks on Saudi civilian targets by Iran-backed Houthi forces as the reason. Separately, the U.S. military has quietly reduced its forces stationed in Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait and other locations in recent days. The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. is deploying another aircraft carrier to the Middle East, with a third carrier strike group en route from the Pacific, and is dispatching amphibious assault ships carrying U.S. Marines. If the additional forces are in place and existing vessels are not rotated or withdrawn, the total number of U.S. warships in the region is expected to exceed 24, up from around 20 currently. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly continuing to advocate for resuming large-scale strikes on Iran. Israel's Channel 12, citing U.S. sources, said dozens of Israeli fighter jets and refueling tankers flew over Syria and Iraq near Iran's border earlier this week, following a flight path highly similar to that of an attack on Iran, before turning back just before entering Iranian airspace. Israel said the mission was for exercises and deterrence. Meanwhile, Pakistan, Qatar and others are intensifying mediation efforts, but the U.S. is demanding talks on Iran's nuclear program, while Iran wants to first discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with no breakthrough in negotiations so far.