Iran war won’t end until after US midterm elections, says Trump

US President Donald Trump has stated that the Iran war will not conclude until after the November midterm elections, with oil prices not expected to decrease until then. Trump believes the conflict will only end when the Iranian government can no longer sustain it. As Trump prepares to attend the Republican Party's pre-midterm convention in Texas, where the balance of power in the US government could shift, his approval ratings have plummeted due to the ongoing war and its impact on everyday expenses.

Recently, oil prices surged to $100 per barrel for the first time since July, driven by heightened tensions in the Middle East. Trump believes Iran is motivated to influence the election in a way that would favor his party and allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies. The US leader also indicated that further talks with Iran might be possible in the future, though it is not a current priority.

The conflict, now in its seventh month, has led to a decline in US oil and goods prices, resulting in a significant drop in Trump's approval ratings. In response to the escalating violence, the US military targeted five Iranian-linked oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing substantial damage to the ships. Iran retaliated by striking two US Navy destroyers and eight oil tankers in the same region, resulting in "heavy damage," according to Iranian state media.

The ongoing war, which resumed following a 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran, has fueled predictions that rising fuel costs could lead to increased interest rates in the US.