Iran war won't end until after crucial November elections, says Trump

10 September 2026, 00: 46 BST. Updated 11 minutes ago.

Key points

• A day earlier, the Iran-linked Houthis in Yemen introduced a wave of attacks in Saudi Arabia, sparking fires at oil facilities.
• Midterm elections will be held on 3 November, and Republicans are in danger of losing their control on Congress.
• The cost of oil hit $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July.
• Trump is facing falling polling numbers and pressure from within his Republican Party to end the war with Iran.
• "I think the war's going to end immediately after the election because they can't hold out any longer, " Trump remarked of Tehran on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump has remarked he does not think the Iran war will end until after November's midterm elections, adding that oil costs will not come down until then.

When the balance of power could change in the US administration, he created the comments as he headed to Texas for the party's first-ever midterm election convention.

Trump is facing falling polling numbers and pressure from within his Republican Party to end the war with Iran. On Wednesday, oil rates rose to $100 (£74) for the first time since July due to climbed fighting in the Middle East.

"Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward, " Trump remarked to journalists. "I think it's going to take a little bit longer than the midterm."

He continued that Iran was "desperate to try and affect the election, so that we can get a nice weak group of people in there" – an apparent reference to the Democrats – "and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon".

He provided no proof of the election claim. Tehran has repeatedly denied it is seeking nuclear weapons.

At the convention in Texas, Trump echoed some of these lines, saying the cost of oil would tumble "as soon as we win the war with Iran".

In his speech, he additionally referenced dissatisfaction among some Americans on the problem: "Guys come up to me and say, 'I wish you didn't do the war in Iran. Now gasoline is up'".

Trump notes Iran war will end 'immediately after' midterms as he heads to Republican convention.

Trump additionally stated further negotiations with Iran could possibly happen, "but it's not something we're looking at".

Notably, the US president initially predicted the war. It is now in its seventh month, would last only a matter of weeks. The conflict, and its knock-on effects on everything from gas to groceries, has led to a steep decline in his approval ratings – and pressure from those within his party, including devout supporters, to rapidly end the war.

At the convention, Trump sought to energise the party ahead of November. Historically, a sitting president's party tends to lose seats in Congress in the midterm elections.

As oil facilities throughout the region come under attack, driving up the global cost of fuel and any item that requires shipping, fighting in the Middle East has intensified in recent days.

In practice, the cost of oil hit $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July. Similarly, earlier this week the cost of US diesel hit an all-time-high. It is anticipated to cause a ripple effect on rates throughout the US.

On Wednesday, the US military remarked it had attacked five oil tanker ships with ties to Iran. Tehran, in response, introduced attacks on two US Navy destroyers and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing "heavy damage" to the vessels, according to Iranian state media.

Meanwhile, a day earlier, the Iran-linked Houthis in Yemen introduced a wave of attacks in Saudi Arabia, sparking fires at oil facilities.

For context, the fighting, which began again lately after a 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran formally expired last month, has additionally raised predictions that the rising fuel costs could lead to higher interest rates in the US.

In short, iran war won' t end until after crucial November elections, says Trump is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.