Top White House advisers have privately warned President Donald Trump that the conflict with Iran could extend through the remainder of his presidency, potentially beyond January 2029. This assessment contrasts with Trump's public statements, where he predicted the war would conclude immediately after the US midterm elections in November.
Trump suggested that Iran was attempting to influence the election outcome by prolonging the conflict. He stated that oil prices would not decrease until after the elections, but then expected them to fall rapidly. He also acknowledged that diplomatic talks with Iran were a possibility but not a preferred course of action.
The conflict, now in its seventh month, has intensified recently with attacks on oil facilities in the Middle East. The US military attacked five Iranian-linked oil tankers, prompting Iran to retaliate by targeting two US Navy destroyers and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing significant damage. These developments have driven oil prices to $100 per barrel for the first time since July.
Trump has also threatened strikes on Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified site near Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility, urging Tehran "not to get cute" because the US "will have to hit them very hard."
