The US president expects the conflict to end after November’s midterm elections, while senior advisers reportedly warn it could continue into 2029.
WASHINGTON – Web Desk: US President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran is unlikely to continue until the end of his current presidential term, maintaining his public expectation that the conflict will end relatively soon.
Trump has previously said he expects the war to end immediately after the US midterm elections in November, arguing that Iran would not be able to withstand continued American pressure.
His latest position, however, contrasts with private assessments reportedly shared by senior members of his administration.
Senior Advisers Warn Conflict Could Continue Into 2029
According to The Wall Street Journal, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior White House officials have privately discussed with Trump the possibility that Iran could continue resisting US military and economic pressure.
Those discussions reportedly included the possibility that the conflict could extend beyond the end of Trump’s current term and past January 2029, when the next presidential term is due to begin.
The reported assessment stands in contrast to Trump’s public statements about a relatively early conclusion to the conflict.
Reuters, citing the Wall Street Journal, reported that the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the advisers’ reported warnings.
Trump Expects Iran to Give In
Trump has maintained that Iran will not be able to withstand US pressure indefinitely.
His stated objective is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, while US military and economic pressure on Tehran has continued during the conflict.
The president has also indicated that diplomatic discussions remain possible, although he has continued to emphasize pressure on Iran as the central strategy.
The disagreement between Trump’s public predictions and the reported private assessments illustrates the uncertainty surrounding the conflict’s eventual duration.
War Keeps Pressure on Global Oil Markets
The conflict is also continuing to affect international energy markets.
Oil prices moved above $100 a barrel this week as attacks and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and other regional shipping routes raised concerns about global supplies. Reuters reported that Brent crude settled at $107.63 a barrel on September 10, while US West Texas Intermediate reached $102.48.
On September 11, Brent remained above $100 despite falling from the previous session’s highs. Reuters said the benchmark was on track for an increase of more than 8% for the week amid continuing supply concerns linked to Middle East tensions.
The Strait of Hormuz remains particularly important because disruptions there can affect a major global energy shipping route. The conflict has also created additional risks around the Bab al-Mandab Strait following attacks involving the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.
No Clear End to Conflict Yet
Despite Trump’s confidence that the war will not continue through the end of his presidency, independent reporting indicates that there is currently no clear resolution.
The Associated Press reported on September 11 that the United States had made progress in efforts affecting the Strait of Hormuz, but the Iran war remained ongoing, costly and without a clear resolution.
The reported warnings from senior US officials therefore point to a significant uncertainty: while Trump expects the conflict to end after the November midterm elections, some of his closest advisers are reportedly preparing for the possibility of a much longer confrontation.
For now, neither scenario represents a confirmed outcome. Trump’s prediction is his stated expectation, while the possibility of the conflict continuing into 2029 comes from reported private discussions by US officials.
