# Trump Rules Out Iran Attack Before Midterms as Treasury Sanctions 17 Tankers

By Riza Dagoc

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/28695
Published: 2026-10-09T03:49:18.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-09T03:49:18.000Z
Section: Regulation

> Brent crude settled at $104.28 a barrel after rising 4%, while the Treasury targeted vessels accused of moving Iranian oil to Asian markets.

President Donald Trump said Oct. 8 that the United States would not attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, while new tanker sanctions and elevated oil prices kept geopolitical risk in focus for global markets and crypto traders.

Trump said the U.S. naval blockade of Iran would continue and reiterated that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. His statement marked a shift from the previous evening, when he said the administration was considering renewed attacks before the election.

The Treasury Department sanctioned 17 Iranian shadow-fleet vessels the same day, saying the ships had transported millions of barrels of Iranian crude, petroleum and petrochemical products to South and East Asian markets. The targeted vessels included the Vanuatu-flagged tanker TINA 5, which transported more than 1.5 million barrels of Iranian crude in August, and the Cameroon-flagged SHENZHEN, which transported more than 3.5 million barrels since November 2025.

Brent crude settled 4% higher at $104.28 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 3.6% to $91.49. Nine tankers were attacked in and around the Strait of Hormuz over the previous week, while Hurricane Isaias led operators to shut about 500,000 barrels of daily Gulf of Mexico production.

The midterm elections are scheduled for Nov. 3.