Trump leaves door open to more Iran strikes before midterms, says US will ‘win this war soon’

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Sunday, September 27, declined to completely rule out fresh military strikes against Iran before the upcoming November midterm elections, saying further action remained “possible” while predicting the United States would prevail in the conflict “very soon.”

Trump made the comments as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensified after the US administration rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief and access to frozen assets. 

Trump says military and economic pressure are working

Speaking to Fox News, Trump was asked whether military strikes against Iran remained an option before the midterm elections.

“I don't want to say that. I don't want to say that. I mean it's possible, but I just don't want to say that,” Trump said.

Trump also said the United States was making progress through both military operations and economic measures. The president linked the outcome of the conflict to lower energy prices and reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remained a central objective.

“I think what's going to happen is we're going to win this war very soon, and as soon as we win it, it's going to go. The oil will go down, way down to what it was before the war, and the key is Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

Later in the day, Trump reiterated Iran's nuclear situation while claiming that oil prices are still better than under the Biden administration.

“With the exception of oil, which is lower than the Biden administration, and we no longer have to worry about nuclear weapons with Iran because they're wiped out,” Trump said.

Iran warns of renewed war but keeps diplomacy open

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday, September 27, in an interview with NBC News, also said Tehran was prepared for further military confrontation if necessary while emphasizing that diplomacy remained possible.

“We are fully prepared for the war to be resumed. We stand firm in the face of any new aggression, even if it comes to a doomsday war, we stand ready for diplomacy. It is up to President Trump to choose” Araghchi said.

At the same time, Araghchi said Iran remained open to negotiations.

“We don’t care about US midterm elections. We care about our national interests. We are ready to negotiate as much as we are ready to face any challenge," the Iranian leader said.

Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear talks in exchange for the release of frozen assets, sanctions relief and the ability to sell oil internationally.

“We want our assets, which are illegally frozen, to be released. We want to be able to sell our oil,” Araghchi said.

US rejects Iran proposal over sanctions and frozen assets

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Washington had rejected the proposal, describing it as unacceptable because it involved lifting sanctions and restoring access to billions of dollars in assets.

“I think this was a pretty cynical attempt to put something on the table that they knew was unacceptable,” Waltz said. He added that Trump would “leave all options on the table” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.