President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday: “I think what’s going to happen is we’re going to win this war very soon,” adding: “I think we’ve already won it really from a military standpoint.”
Trump tied the course of the war to energy prices. “As soon as Iran gives up … oil is going to come plummeting down,” he said. “The key is, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.” Asked whether further US strikes could come before the November midterm elections, he said: “It’s possible, but I just don’t want to say that,” adding that he expects more talks with Iran this week.
The remarks came a day after he rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. Brent crude rose 2.9% to $107.34 a barrel on Monday, while Iran said it would not soften its conditions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is ready to discuss limits on its nuclear program and inspections if Washington shows it is not seeking regime change.
Trump repeated the message at a White House news conference on Monday. “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. We are going to win this war very soon, and everything will be over,” he said, adding that gasoline prices would fall sharply once the war ends. He argued that a nuclear-armed Iran would make Israel’s survival impossible and would pose a serious threat to the Middle East and Europe, and said his administration was well prepared for the Nov. 3 congressional midterm elections.
At the same news conference, Trump suggested that the people released on bail after being detained near a UK air base could be linked to Iran and said he was surprised British authorities had freed them; Iran has denied any connection to the five suspects. He also rated his White House talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week “12 out of 10.”
