TRUMP PREDICTS IRAN WAR WILL END AFTER US MIDTERM ELECTIONS

US President Donald Trump has predicted that the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran will end immediately after the November 3, 2026, midterm elections. Trump said Tehran was attempting to influence the outcome of the elections but would eventually be unable to sustain the conflict under continued US economic pressure.

Speaking to reporters before travelling to Dallas for the Republican Party’s midterm convention, Trump said he believed Iran could no longer hold out for much longer. He also maintained that the Iranian government was hoping to create political difficulties for Republicans ahead of the elections, which will determine control of both chambers of Congress.

The president’s comments came as fighting between the US and Iran intensified, with Iran reporting attacks on 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the United States sank five Iranian oil tankers. The renewed confrontation has further disrupted global energy supplies and pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel.

Trump also acknowledged that negotiations with Tehran remained possible but said diplomacy was not currently the preferred option. His administration has continued to apply economic and military pressure on Iran, while the conflict has become increasingly unpopular among American voters as rising energy and transportation costs put additional pressure on households.

However, Trump's prediction of a quick end to the conflict contrasts with warnings from some of his senior advisers. Reports indicate that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials privately believe the confrontation could continue well beyond the midterm elections and potentially last until the end of Trump's presidential term in January 2029.