Trump Claims Iran Conflict Will Conclude Immediately Following Midterm Elections Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions

Donald Trump has asserted that Tehran is attempting to prolong the ongoing conflict in order to keep fuel prices elevated. Meanwhile, Pakistan has issued a warning to Iran to rein in the Houthis following a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia, which prompted Riyadh to issue emergency alerts for incoming Houthi missiles and drones.

Amid the regional instability, seven ships have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz, though explosions were recently reported near the crucial waterway in Iran. Amid the escalating situation, Trump reiterated his claim that the war will end after the midterms and called for a complete halt to Iran's nuclear programme.

In other developments, an Israeli strike hit a residential area in Gaza, while an Iranian attack left a noticeable hole in a tanker off the coast of Iraq. The US military also claimed responsibility for destroying five Iranian oil tankers. Footage and reports highlighted the aftermath of the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, alongside long queues of Iranians waiting for fuel at petrol stations in Tehran.

Addressing the maritime security situation, a UAE minister warned that no country can own the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts and officials have further noted that the Houthis have become more dangerous than a pure Iranian proxy, reinforcing the growing consensus that the Gulf region is in dire need of closer security co-operation.