President Donald Trump said it was “very unlikely” that he would go to war again with Iran, but warned that an attack on Iran remains a possibility as the United States tries to reach a deal with Iran to end the conflict.
The war, which lasted more than eight months, caused inflation; oil Prices have skyrocketed and fighting has broken out repeatedly for months, with periods of ceasefires and peace talks. After the midterm elections, in which the Republican Party suffered a landslide defeat to the Democratic Party, it was widely speculated that President Trump would resume public conflict.
President Trump’s comments came in an interview with CNN, where he said a renewed war is unlikely as long as progress is made in talks to limit Iran’s nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“It depends on whether we sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said. “It’s very unlikely that we’ll ever need that answer. They’re a failed state.”
However, President Trump has left open the possibility of additional attacks if deemed necessary. The president repeated his threat to attack Iranian bridges and power plants if the war resumed.
“We have three aircraft carriers here. Another just arrived. There are three. They are completely locked up and loaded with cargo,” the president said. “There are 38 bridges on the property that could literally be destroyed in an hour.”
Oil prices are likely to fall once the war ends and the Strait of Hormuz reopens, but a ceasefire is proving difficult to find. All previous attempts to end the war and reopen the Straits have ended in disappointment.
But now that Democrats have a majority in both houses of Congress, pressure is likely to increase on Mr. Trump to end the conflict. Some Republicans may be eager to end the war, given that high gas prices have contributed to confusion at voting stations.
The president called on Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz and agree not to develop nuclear weapons as part of any deal.
Later that day, President Trump posted on Truth Social: “Task Force Iron Gate is in full force and effect in the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
“Coupled with the largest naval blockade in history, very few people are entering or leaving Iran!” he said.
Central Command announced Task Force Iron Gate on Saturday, describing it as an effort aimed at “preventing the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technology, sanctioned materials, and illicit revenue sources across Iran’s borders and the Caspian Sea.”
The United States has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports for several months.
