Day 195 | Trump predicts Iran war will end ‘immediately after the election’
US President Donald Trump says talks with Iran “could happen,” while predicting that the war will end “immediately” after the US midterm elections in November. Trump said Tehran would not be able to withstand continued US economic pressure, although he acknowledged that negotiations remain possible.
Iran has condemned the International Atomic Energy Agency after its Board of Governors referred Tehran to the United Nations Security Council for the first time in 20 years. The resolution, backed by 23 of the board’s 35 members, cites Iran’s failure to cooperate with an investigation into uranium traces found at undeclared sites and its lack of access for inspectors. Tehran has rejected the move as politically motivated.
Iranian state media has reported that an explosion was heard in the southern city of Jask, with the blast reportedly coming from the direction of the sea. The cause and exact location of the explosion were not immediately clear.
An Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson says a restricted maritime area will extend from Chabahar into parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The spokesperson said the precise coordinates would be announced later and warned that ships entering the area could face sanctions or other punitive measures.
Iran used maneuverable ballistic missiles against US warships: US media
Iran used medium-range ballistic missiles equipped with maneuverable warheads in recent attempts to strike US warships, making the attacks more difficult to intercept, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials.
The report said the Iranian missiles were equipped with technology allowing their warheads to maneuver during flight toward moving targets, bringing the attacks closer to hitting US vessels than previous attempts.
US officials have described some of the recent Iranian missile attacks as “close calls.” However, no US warship has been hit in the reported attacks.
Iranian officials have said they used the Qassem Basir missile in attacks on US naval forces. The missile is described as a medium-range ballistic system with a maneuverable reentry vehicle, although independent analysts say it remains unclear whether the Qassem Basir was used in the recent attacks.
Saudi Civil Defense issues warning in Khamis Mushait
Saudi Civil Defense said an alert was issued through the National Early Warning Platform in Khamis Mushait to warn residents of a potential danger.
The agency urged residents to move to a safe place inside a building, stay away from windows and exposed areas, and follow official safety instructions.
The alert was later lifted, with authorities urging residents to continue following Civil Defense instructions and avoid gatherings or filming.
Trump: “We might have to give Pickaxe Mountain another shot”
US President Donald Trump said the United States may need to carry out another strike on a site he called “Pickaxe Mountain,” citing what he described as recent movement at the location.
“There’s another place called Pickaxe Mountain, another nice place. We might have to give them another shot there because someone said there was a little movement at the site,” Trump said.
The remarks appeared to signal the possibility of further US military action against an Iranian site.
Iran war won't end until after US midterm elections, says Trump
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he expects the war with Iran to end immediately after the November midterm elections, adding that oil prices will not fall until then.
“I think the war’s going to end immediately after the election because they can’t hold out any longer,” Trump said, referring to Tehran.
Trump, who initially predicted the war would last only weeks, said oil prices would begin falling after the elections. Brent crude rose to $100 a barrel on Wednesday amid intensified fighting and disruptions to regional energy supplies.
Pressure mounts on Trump
Trump’s comments come as he faces declining approval ratings and growing pressure from within the Republican Party to end the conflict.
He also suggested Iran could seek to influence the US elections, claiming Tehran wants to help elect a weaker group that would allow it to pursue a nuclear weapon. Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons.
Trump said further negotiations with Iran could take place, but added that talks were “not something we’re looking at” currently.
Saudi Civil Defense: Danger has passed in Abha
Saudi Civil Defense announced that the danger has passed in Abha, following an earlier warning issued through the National Early Warning Platform.
The agency urged residents to continue following Civil Defense instructions and avoid gatherings and filming.
Saudi Civil Defense issues early warning for Abha
Saudi Civil Defense said an alert was issued through the National Early Warning Platform in Abha, warning residents of a potential danger.
The alert came amid renewed Houthi attacks on southern Saudi cities, including Abha, Khamis Mushait and Jazan.
Trump advisers warn Iran war could last until 2029: WSJ
Senior White House advisers have privately warned President Donald Trump that the conflict with Iran could continue through the remainder of his presidency, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials reportedly discussed with Trump the possibility that Tehran could continue resisting US economic and military pressure, potentially extending the conflict beyond the January 2029 inauguration.
The assessment contrasts with Trump’s repeated public statements that the conflict could end soon. On Wednesday, Trump said he expected the war to end “immediately” after the November midterm elections.
The report also says Trump supports a long-term economic pressure campaign against Tehran, including sanctions and a naval blockade, aimed at weakening Iran’s economy and forcing concessions over its nuclear program.
Rubio says Iran will lose more tankers
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he does not believe any country is providing military support to Iran, while vowing to maintain economic pressure on Tehran.
Rubio said Iran continues to attempt attacks on US warships and would pay a price through the loss of its oil tankers.
“They didn’t hit our ships, but they lost five additional tankers last night,” Rubio said.
The US military said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after accusing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of attempting to strike a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles.
Iran subsequently claimed attacks on US vessels and other tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, while the US said no American warship had been hit.
Iran, China, Russia reject E3, US drafted res. at IAEA Board
Iran, Russia and China have rejected a draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors that refers Iran’s nuclear file to the UN Security Council, calling it legally baseless and contrary to claims of pursuing diplomacy.
In a joint statement, the three countries urged IAEA member states not to support the resolution, arguing that it would increase pressure on Tehran and undermine cooperation between Iran and the agency.
They also condemned attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, saying the current security conditions have made it impossible for the IAEA to carry out its safeguards activities in Iran normally.
The three countries further rejected efforts to activate the “snapback” mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, arguing that the mechanism no longer has legal effect.
The statement came as the IAEA Board of Governors approved a resolution referring Iran to the Security Council for the first time in two decades. The measure was backed by 23 members, while Russia and China voted against it.
Saudi Arabia says 73 wounded as Houthis attack civilian and energy sites
Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthis of launching attacks on civilian and economic sites in the kingdom, wounding at least 73 civilians, including women and children.
Saudi-led coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said the attacks targeted sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran, describing them as a “dangerous escalation” and a violation of Saudi sovereignty.
The Saudi Energy Ministry separately said several energy facilities in the south were hit early Tuesday, causing fires and temporarily disrupting some operations.
The Houthis said their attacks were in response to more than 120 Saudi strikes on Yemen over three days. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group carried out a large-scale operation using ballistic missiles and drones.
The escalation comes as Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces intensify their offensive against the Houthis, with fighting spreading across several provinces.
Sirens sound in Upper Galilee over suspected drone infiltration
Air raid sirens sounded in the Upper Galilee, amid concerns over a possible drone infiltration from Lebanon.
The alerts were reported in northern areas near the Lebanese border. Similar warnings have previously been issued over suspected aerial infiltrations from Lebanon.
Explosions heard near Iran’s Qeshm Island: State media
A loud explosion was heard moments ago on Qeshm Island in Iran, located in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.
IRNA reported that the source of the blast was not immediately clear, saying it was uncertain whether the sound came from the sea or from within Qeshm Island.
Day 194 of the US-‘Israeli’ war on Iran
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Read more: Day 194 | Tehran threatens vessels in Bahrain, Kuwait after US strikes Iranian tankers
