Iran war won't end until after US midterm elections, says Trump - BBC

**Iran war won’t end until after U.S. midterm elections, says Trump**

*Washington, D.C.* – Former President Donald J. Trump told a packed audience at the Republican National Convention in Dallas on Tuesday that the ongoing hostilities with Iran would not be concluded until after the U.S. midterm elections on November 5, 2024. Speaking to supporters, Trump said the conflict would “wrap up immediately” once the electorate had cast its votes, adding that the timing was being “deliberately delayed” by political opponents who want to influence the outcome of the election. He also linked the war’s continuation to current oil and gas price levels, insisting that “prices won’t fall until right after the midterms.”

The remarks come amid a series of U.S. strikes against Iranian‑backed militia sites in Iraq and Syria, which have been justified by the Biden administration as defensive actions against attacks on American personnel. The White House, however, has not confirmed any plan to end the operations in conjunction with the upcoming elections. Pentagon spokesperson John Graham said the U.S. will “continue to assess the security environment and act in accordance with our national interests,” without referencing a specific timeline. Congressional leaders from both parties have called for a “clear strategy” on Iran, warning that politicizing a foreign‑policy matter could undermine U.S. credibility abroad.

Political analysts note that Trump’s statement is part of a broader effort to frame foreign‑policy issues as election‑year leverage. Dr. Maya Sinha, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies, cautioned that “linking the end of a military engagement to an electoral calendar is a dangerous precedent that could limit diplomatic flexibility.” While Trump’s supporters applaud his pledge to bring peace after the vote, critics argue that such rhetoric may embolden Iran’s leadership, which has repeatedly warned that any perceived “premature” U.S. withdrawal could be seen as a concession. The war’s trajectory, therefore, remains contingent on evolving security calculations rather than electoral timelines.