Trump says Iran war could end after midterms, points to Hormuz oil flow
He says the US is helping restore oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, even as Iran keeps its conditions for reopening it in place
Published
Map: The Gulf and Hormuz, marking Strait of Hormuz
Trump said the Iran war could end after the midterm elections, and possibly before. He said he hopes Iran acts quickly, and that there will be a point when it is too late. He also said the US is facilitating renewed oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Iranian mediators, and Trump said the meeting was productive and that there is momentum. He said he thinks the two men will get the matter ended. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Witkoff on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Iran has kept its conditions in place: lifting its naval blockade, releasing frozen assets, and ending regional conflicts before it will reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's parliament has proposed a 20% transit fine for ships passing through the strait, and Iran has hardened its conditions even as both sides describe continued contact. Iran has also halted some regional flights amid the tensions.
The mention of renewed US-facilitated oil flow through the strait, paired with Trump's framing of a narrow window for a deal, points to progress beyond earlier statements on the conflict. But Iran's conditions remain unmet and represent material obstacles, so while the momentum looks real, execution risk stays high.