Iran War: Trump Predicts End After US Midterm Elections
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Iran War: Trump’s Prediction
US President Donald Trump has stated that the Iran war is unlikely to end until after the November midterm elections, arguing that oil prices will remain high until then.
"I think the war’s going to end immediately after the election because they can’t hold out any longer," Trump said of Tehran on Wednesday.
He made these comments while traveling to Texas for the Republican Party’s first convention ahead of the midterm elections, where power could shift in the US government.
Trump faces declining poll numbers and internal pressure from his Republican Party to end the war with Iran.
On Wednesday, oil prices rose to $100 per barrel (£74) for the first time since July due to escalating fighting in the Middle East.
"Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward," Trump told reporters. "I think it’s going to take a little bit longer than the midterm."
He suggested that Iran might attempt to influence the election:
"They can’t hold out any longer… They’re desperate to try and affect the election, so that we can get a nice weak group of people in there [the Democrats] and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."
Tehran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons.
Trump indicated further negotiations with Iran might occur but added: "It’s not something we’re looking at."
Initially, Trump predicted the conflict would last only weeks, but the war—and its broader effects on fuel and food costs—has significantly damaged his approval ratings.
Recent fighting in the Middle East has intensified, with attacks on oil facilities disrupting global energy supplies.
On Wednesday, the US military claimed responsibility for attacking five oil tanker ships with suspected Iranian ties. Iran responded by launching strikes against two US Navy destroyers and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing "heavy damage," according to state media.
The conflict escalated further earlier this week when Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched attacks on Saudi Arabia, sparking fires at oil facilities.
