US President Donald Trump has predicted that the war with Iran will end “immediately after” the November midterm elections, arguing that Tehran will no longer be able to withstand American economic pressure.
Trump made the remarks on Wednesday as the conflict entered its seventh month and the United States and Iran exchanged fresh attacks around the Strait of Hormuz. He also accused Iran of trying to influence the outcome of the November 3 elections by prolonging the conflict.
“I think war is going to end immediately after the election because they can't hold out any longer,” Trump told reporters before travelling to the Republican National Convention in Dallas.
The prediction comes as the war continues to affect energy markets and has become an increasingly important political issue ahead of the US midterms.
Trump Links War Timeline to November Vote
Trump suggested that Iran was attempting to influence American voters by keeping the conflict going but said Tehran would ultimately be unable to sustain the pressure.
He also indicated that oil prices would fall after the election if the war ends. However, Trump acknowledged that diplomatic negotiations remain possible, although he said talks were not currently his preferred option.
The November elections are particularly significant for Trump's administration because voters will decide whether Republicans retain control of Congress.
The president's comments therefore place the expected end of the conflict directly alongside a major domestic political milestone.
White House Advisers Reportedly See Longer War
Trump's confident prediction contrasts sharply with reports about private assessments within his administration.
According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Reuters, senior advisers including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have privately warned that Iran could continue resisting US pressure and that the conflict could potentially last through the remainder of Trump's presidency, which ends in January 2029.
The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the report.
The differing assessments highlight the uncertainty surrounding the conflict's eventual outcome. While Trump expects a rapid end after the midterms, senior officials are reportedly preparing for a much longer confrontation.
IAEA Refers Iran Nuclear Issue to UN
The military confrontation has also been accompanied by growing diplomatic pressure over Iran's nuclear programme.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors voted on Wednesday to refer Iran's nuclear non-compliance to the United Nations Security Council. The resolution passed with 23 votes in favour, while Russia, China and Niger voted against and eight countries abstained.
The move marks the first time in two decades that the IAEA board has taken such action against Iran.
Iran has rejected the allegations and argued that continued military operations make normal inspections of its nuclear facilities difficult.
Fighting Around Strait of Hormuz Intensifies
The latest escalation has also centred on commercial and military shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy routes.
The United States said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after Iranian forces targeted US naval assets. Iran subsequently attacked several ships near the waterway, in the biggest recent wave of attacks on shipping since the conflict began.
The confrontation has already pushed global oil prices sharply higher. Brent crude moved above $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July, raising fresh concerns about inflation and the cost of fuel, transport and other goods.
War Creates Political Pressure for Trump
The prolonged conflict is increasingly becoming a domestic political liability for the Trump administration.
Higher energy prices and rising living costs are adding to voter concerns, while Trump's approval ratings have weakened amid frustration over the war and the broader cost-of-living crisis. Reuters reported that the November midterms are widely viewed as a referendum on Trump's leadership.
At the same time, there is no clear evidence that the conflict will automatically end after the election.
With Iran continuing to resist US pressure, fighting spreading across several regional theatres and oil markets under strain, Trump's prediction of an immediate post-election conclusion remains a political forecast rather than an established timeline.
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