Trump admits Iran war will not end before midterms

Iran war not to end before midterms, Trump admits

The Iran war is all but likely to drag on through the midterm elections in November, according to President Trump.

Annabelle Gordon, CNP, Bloomberg via Getty Images

“I think the war is going to end immediately after the election ,” Trump told reporters Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews en route to the Republican midterm convention in Dallas.

He also accused Iran of trying to meddle in the elections, saying “they’re desperate to try and affect” the ballot box.

“They can’t hold out any longer ,” he continued. “They’re desperate to try and affect the election so that we can get a nice, weak group of people in there, and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon.”

This is the first time Trump has acknowledged that the war, now in its sixth month, will not be resolved until after the November midterms.

Asked whether he expects negotiations with Iran to resume , Trump replied: “We’re not looking for it, to be honest.”

“Yes, a negotiation could possibly happen , but it’s not something we’re looking at,” he added.

The president’s comments come after Iran said Wednesday that it targeted 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz, including two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers. Those strikes followed the U.S. destroying five Iranian oil tankers Tuesday.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck the vessels as they attempted to pass through an area Iran declared off-limits . Tehran also launched ballistic missiles toward a U.S. base in eastern Jordan.

U.S. Central Command disputed Iran’s claim that it successfully struck the two American warships.

“We’ve knocked out nine of their ships. I would say that the attacks are caused by us, and you’re going to see a lot more ,” Trump told reporters Wednesday.

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How policy will affect defense and national security now and in the future:

Iran appears ready to fight back against growing U.S. leverage in the Strait of Hormuz, and the threat of renewed war is causing oil prices to rise even as more ships are making it through the vital waterway with the help of the U.S. Navy. The Trump administration has worked to open passageways through the strait and usher oil out, but the shipping lane remains essentially closed, and the escalating fighting is pushing oil …

The U.S. military destroyed five Iranian oil tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Tuesday in response to attempted Iranian missile launches at U.S. Navy warships, the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced. The U.S. forces disabled IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, along with M/T Derya near Kharg Island, an island located in the northern …

Oil prices climbed above $100 per barrel Wednesday for the first time since July as renewed fighting in the Middle East raised concerns about further disruptions to global energy supplies. Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped nearly 3 percent to $100.72 per barrel in early trading, crossing $100 for the first time since late July. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude rose 2.4 percent to $95.25 per barrel. …

Iran said Wednesday that it targeted 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz, including two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers, after the U.S. military attacked and destroyed five Iranian oil tankers Tuesday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck the vessels as they attempted to pass through an area Iran declared off-limits. Tehran also launched ballistic missiles toward a U.S. base in eastern Jordan. U.S. …

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