Trump finally puts an end date on the Iran war and it's tied to the midterms

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said he believes the war involving Iran will end "immediately after the election," tying his latest prediction about the conflict to the upcoming US midterms.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for Trumpapalooza in Dallas on Wednesday, September 9, Trump claimed Iran was trying to influence the election in hopes that a weaker group of American leaders would emerge.

"I think the war will end immediately after the election," Trump said. "They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."

Trump did not provide evidence for his claim about Iran's intentions or explain why he believed the conflict would end after Americans vote.

Trump links war to midterms

Trump's comments marked a specific prediction about when he expects the conflict to end.

He connected that timeline directly to his belief that Iran wants the outcome of the midterm elections to change the US approach toward Tehran.

The president said Iran was seeking leaders who would be less aggressive toward the country.

"They're desperate" to affect the election, Trump said, before repeating his opposition to Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Trump has made preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon a central part of his public messaging on the conflict.

Trump claims tanker attacks expanded

Trump also spoke about military action involving Iranian vessels, claiming the US had taken out nine Iranian tankers.

"We've knocked out nine of their ships," Trump told reporters. "I would say that the attacks are caused by us, and you're going to see a lot more."

He added that many of the vessels were "gone-zo."

The president did not provide further details during the exchange about the tankers, including when the alleged attacks occurred or the extent of the damage.

More than nuclear issues involved

Trump said the discussions surrounding Iran now extended beyond its nuclear program.

"I'm doing much more than a nuclear deal," he said. "There's a lot more than nuclear."

He described the nuclear issue as "99.9" of the matter but said other issues would also be included.

According to Trump, those additional matters would not have been under discussion three months earlier.

Trump links cheaper gas to midterms

Trump also tied his predictions about the conflict to what Americans are paying at the gas pump.

Asked how he would explain high gasoline prices to voters, Trump said he would tell Americans to consider whether Iran should be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

“For a little while, I would say this: shortly, but right after the election, because they'd like to have it that way, but right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward,” Trump said.

He predicted gasoline prices would eventually fall below $2 a gallon.

However, when pressed on when that would happen, Trump said, “I think it's going to take a little bit longer than the midterm.”

The national average price of gasoline is currently $4.22 per gallon, representing a 41.7% increase since the start of the Iran war.