The key facts
- Trump: the war with Iran will end 'very soon'; the US could leave now, but wants a lasting result
- NYT: the US and Israel have developed plans for new strikes on Iran after the midterm elections; it is not certain Trump will approve them
- The US–Iran memorandum of June, signed with mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, has reached a dead end
Trump's statements at the rally in South Carolina
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday at a rally in South Carolina that the war with Iran 'will end very soon.' 'We could leave now, but we want to make sure it lasts a long time,' he said. According to him, the US has 'defeated Iran militarily and financially,' and Tehran 'will never get a nuclear weapon.' Trump also stated that the US has established a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which he called the 'Strait of Trump': 'We renamed the Gulf of Mexico. Why not rename the Strait of Hormuz?'
'Not negotiating'
Returning from the rally, Trump told journalists that the US is 'not negotiating' with Iran, and that 'something, one way or another, will happen fairly soon.' 'Most people, it seems, think it will be after the elections,' he added. 'We'll see what happens.'
NYT data on plans for new strikes
The statements came against the backdrop of a publication by The New York Times, citing American officials and people familiar with the discussions, that the US and Israeli militaries have developed plans for new strikes on Iran after the midterm elections. According to the newspaper, it is by no means certain that Trump will approve the strikes: this year he has repeatedly rejected plans to return to major combat operations. A White House representative told the Times that the administration does not comment on military plans 'that may or may not exist.'
Context of the war and the deadlocked memorandum
The US and Israel began the war against Iran on February 28. Tehran responded with missile and drone strikes on the region and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for global energy supplies. The memorandum of understanding, signed in June by the US and Iran after mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, has since reached a dead end due to disagreements, including over shipping in the strait.
