Trump signals Iran war could end soon as regional tensions mount

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the Iran war will end “very quick, one way or the other”, speaking at a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York. He said a deal or military action would resolve it, as fighting in Yemen and threats to shipping raised regional security concerns.

How soon will the Iran war end, according to Trump?

Trump said the conflict would be settled either through a deal or through military action. He warned Tehran that “either they give us everything or they do not exist any longer”. He also said Washington would hold off on new strikes before the November 3 midterm elections, while leaving open renewed military action after the vote.

What did Trump say about oil prices?

Trump forecast a sharp decline in oil prices once the conflict ends, claiming that more crude was moving through the Strait of Hormuz than before the war. He urged oil refiners and fuel retailers to bring down prices.

Are there diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war?

Efforts to find a diplomatic solution continued alongside the military escalation. The Kremlin said Trump had welcomed Russia’s involvement in attempts to resolve the conflict during discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

What is happening in Yemen as the Iran war continues?

The Saudi-led coalition said it had struck 136 Houthi military targets in Yemen in a major offensive, including missile launch sites and radar installations. Yemen’s internationally recognised government separately said its forces had carried out more than 2,750 strikes in a 24-hour period, claiming that more than 1,400 Houthi fighters had been neutralised. The figures could not be independently verified.

The latest escalation followed Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, including Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, in which three Saudi nationals were killed.

What is the IRGC threatening near the Strait of Hormuz?

Maritime security also remained under threat after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for an attack on the liquefied petroleum gas carrier NV Sunshine near the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC warned that ships travelling along routes it had not authorized could be targeted, extending the threat to commercial vessels operating beyond the strategic waterway.