Iran has deliberately extended talks with the United States in an effort to undermine President Donald Trump politically before the November midterm elections, according to senior Iranian officials cited in a Reuters report published Tuesday.

Three senior Iranian officials and an Iranian insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Tehran sees no benefit in reaching a quick agreement to end the eight-month-old war. The officials stated that the clerical establishment is determined not to hand Trump a political win amid ongoing disputes over the sequencing of any potential deal.

"Iran is preparing for renewed Israeli and US attacks, not for a deal with America to end the war," one official said. Another added that "the clerical establishment is determined not to give Trump a political victory."

Tehran analyst Saeed Leylaz noted that by dragging out the negotiations, "Iran is influencing the US election without taking any unlawful action." The war, which began in February when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, has contributed to record-low approval ratings for Trump and concerns over rising gasoline prices that could hurt Republicans in the November 3 contests.

Trump has publicly stated that the United States will not conduct strikes on Iran before the midterms. Iranian officials expressed skepticism about that commitment and indicated they expect military action to resume at some point. Disputes over whether nuclear issues should be addressed first have kept the talks in a stalemate, with little prospect of a breakthrough before Election Day, the officials said.

The conflict has involved a U.S. maritime blockade of Iranian ports and sanctions that have sharply reduced Iran's oil export revenues. Iran has resisted concessions that could provide Trump with a visible foreign policy success heading into the elections.

Iran's Foreign Ministry and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report.