US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he does not think the Iran war will end until after November's midterm elections, adding that oil prices will not come down until then. He made the comments as he headed to Texas for the party's first-ever midterm election convention, where the balance of power in the US government could change.
"I think the war's going to end immediately after the election because they can't hold out any longer," Trump said of Tehran. He claimed oil prices would "tumble downward" after the election, though it might take "a little bit longer than the midterm." Trump accused Iran of being "desperate to try and affect the election" without providing any proof. Tehran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons.
Trump's remarks come amid falling polling numbers and pressure from within his Republican Party to end the war. On Wednesday, oil prices rose to $100 a barrel for the first time since July due to increased fighting in the Middle East. US diesel prices also hit an all-time high, likely causing a ripple effect on prices across the US.
At the convention, Trump acknowledged dissatisfaction among some Americans: "Guys come up to me and say, 'I wish you didn't do the war in Iran. Now gasoline is up'." He also said further negotiations with Iran could possibly happen, "but it's not something we're looking at." The war, now in its seventh month, was initially predicted by Trump to last only weeks. The conflict and its knock-on effects have led to a steep decline in his approval ratings and pressure from within his party.
Midterm elections will be held on 3 November, and Republicans are in danger of losing control of Congress. Historically, a sitting president's party tends to lose seats in the midterm elections. On Wednesday, the US military said it had attacked five oil tanker ships with ties to Iran. In response, Tehran launched attacks on two US Navy destroyers and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing "heavy damage," according to Iranian state media. A day earlier, Iran-linked Houthis in Yemen launched attacks in Saudi Arabia, sparking fires at oil facilities. The fighting resumed after a 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran formally expired last month. Rising fuel costs have also raised predictions of higher interest rates in the US.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk