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Senior White House aides privately told Donald Trump the war with Iran could drag on until January 2029. The warning underscored a sharp gap with Trump's claim that the conflict will end after the US midterms.
US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office, with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio standing behind him, at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Reuters)
UPDATED: Sep 10, 2026 06:04 IST
Top White House advisers, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have privately warned President Donald Trump that the war with Iran could continue through the remainder of his presidency, potentially lasting until January 2029, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials.
The warning came during private discussions in the Oval Office and Situation Room, where advisers told Trump that Tehran could continue resisting US pressure and prolong the conflict beyond the next presidential inauguration.
TRUMP EXPECTS WAR TO END AFTER MIDTERMS
The assessment contrasts with Trump's public prediction that the conflict will end "immediately after" the November US midterm elections.
Trump accused Iran of trying to influence the elections by prolonging the war, saying Tehran was "desperate" but could not hold out much longer.
"We are not looking for negotiations with Iran. A negotiation could possibly happen, but it's not something we are looking at. This war will end immediately after our election," Trump said.
IRAN-US ATTACKS ESCALATE AROUND HORMUZ
The latest warning came as Iran and the US stepped up attacks on shipping around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran said it attacked 10 ships after the US destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. At least one seafarer was killed and another was reported missing.
Iran also said it fired ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan. Jordan said it intercepted 18 missiles, while a US official said all American troops were accounted for.
The US said its strikes on the tankers came after Iran's Revolutionary Guards targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles. Rubio warned that Iranian attacks on US naval vessels would trigger further strikes on Iranian tankers.
"Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers," Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia.
HORMUZ DISRUPTION SENDS OIL ABOVE $100
The renewed fighting has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route that carried about a fifth of oil supplies before the war.
Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad Energy said flows through the strait had fallen to as low as 2 million barrels per day, from 8-9 million bpd before fighting resumed on August 30.
Brent crude crossed $100 a barrel on Wednesday, while the average US diesel price hit a record above $5.94 per gallon.
The developments highlight the widening gap between Trump's expectation of a quick end to the war and his advisers' warning that the conflict could potentially continue for the rest of his presidency.
- Ends
With inputs from Reuters
Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
Sep 10, 2026 06:04 IST
