Trump: Iran War Won't End Until After Midterms — SkimNews
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- Trump predicted the Iran war will not end until after the November 3 midterm elections, claiming Iran "can't hold out any longer" and oil prices will tumble once the conflict resolves.
- Oil prices hit $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July, with US diesel also reaching an all-time high earlier in the week amid intensified Middle East fighting.
- The US military attacked five oil tanker ships with ties to Iran, prompting Iran to launch strikes on two US Navy destroyers and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.
- Iran-linked Houthis in Yemen attacked Saudi Arabian oil facilities a day earlier, sparking fires as fighting resumed after a 60-day US-Iran ceasefire expired last month.
- Trump, now in the war's seventh month after initially predicting it would last weeks, faces falling approval ratings and pressure from within his own party to end the conflict before Republicans risk losing control of Congress.
- Trump accused Iran of being "desperate to try and affect the election" to help Democrats take power and allow Iran to pursue nuclear weapons, offering no evidence; Tehran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons.
Why it matters: Trump initially promised the war would last weeks; seven months later, he's extending the timeline past the November 3 midterms. With oil at $100 and diesel at record highs, Republicans risk losing their congressional majorities while voters absorb rising costs at the pump that have already driven down Trump's approval ratings.
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