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Trump says U.S. could end Iran war 'very quickly' while weighing letting it 'wither'

newsOct 23, 2026152,295

President Donald Trump said the United States could end the war with Iran quickly but questioned whether Washington should finish the fight or let the conflict 'wither.' Trump told supporters the campaign to stop Iran could take 'four to five weeks' at the start, while Representative Michael Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said he would not rule out another year of fighting and added that the president and the U.S. Navy 'can maintain this blockade for the foreseeable future.' Oil spiked as Brent topped about $114 to $115 a barrel after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had put seven tankers out of action near the Strait of Hormuz, a claim that no outside source has confirmed. Trump wrote that Iran is trying to drive up oil prices before the U.S. midterm elections and accused Tehran of fabricating attacks and mines. The White House and Israeli officials are reported to plan an intensified campaign against Iran after the election. Democrats are framing the conflict as an affordability issue to criticize Republican candidates backed by Trump, making higher fuel costs a direct political risk for Republicans in the midterms.

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