Media, 'Iran dragged out negotiations with the US to weaken Trump in the midterms'

Senior Iranian officials have said the Islamic Republic has deliberately prolonged talks with the United States to try to politically weaken Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections. Reuters reports this on its website, adding that fears of a resumption of military action and deep mistrust towards Washington have strengthened Tehran's reluctance to reach a rapid agreement to end the war.

“Iran is preparing for new Israeli and US attacks, not for a deal with America to end the war,” one of the officials said. “The clerical establishment is determined not to give Trump a political victory.”