White House Considers Lengthy War with Iran Despite Trump's Promises – WSJ

Top advisers to President Donald Trump have privately discussed with him the possibility that the war with Iran could last until the end of his presidential term. Meanwhile, Trump himself publicly predicts the conflict will end immediately after the U.S. midterm elections in November.

The internal discussions within the administration are reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing American officials.

According to them, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior advisers raised the issue during discussions with Trump in the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room.

The administration acknowledges that Tehran may be able to withstand American pressure despite the naval blockade, sanctions, and other military and economic measures. Under this scenario, hostilities could continue even after the end of Trump's presidential term and the inauguration of the next U.S. president in January 2029.

These assessments diverge significantly from the president's own public forecasts. On September 9, before departing for the Republican convention in Dallas, Trump told reporters he expects the war to end immediately after the November 3 midterm elections.

"I think the war will end immediately after the election, because they won't be able to hold out any longer", Trump said.

The U.S. president accused Iran of attempting to prolong the confrontation until the elections to influence the outcome. In his view, Tehran is counting on the victory of politicians who would pursue a less tough policy toward Iran.

Trump also linked the war's end timeline to the situation in the oil market. He stated that after the election and the end of the conflict, oil prices would begin to fall sharply.

The U.S.-Iran war has been going on for seven months now, significantly exceeding the initial timelines Trump had previously mentioned. The president has repeatedly announced that hostilities were nearing an end, yet the confrontation continued, and recent attacks from both sides have again heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

This week, the price of Brent crude again exceeded $100 per barrel amid the new escalation between Washington and Tehran. The prolonged war and supply disruptions through the region remain one of the key risks for global energy markets and inflation.

Sources: The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CBS News