Trump Says He Will Decide When Iran War Ends

President Donald Trump said at a campaign rally in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Tuesday that he would determine when the war with Iran ends. He linked an end to the conflict to a firm commitment that Iran would never acquire nuclear weapons, rather than announcing a date for hostilities to stop. Trump also defended his decision to authorize attacks on Iran. He said he would make the same decision again if faced with the same circumstances, presenting the military action as one of the leading achievements of his presidency. “It’s one of the greatest things I ever did,” Trump said of attacking Iran. In explaining his position on ending the fighting, the president argued that he could bring it to a close quickly. He coupled that assertion with the requirement for a categorical commitment against Iranian nuclear weapons. His remarks described his own conditions for ending the conflict, without announcing a negotiated settlement or a ceasefire agreement. Trump also addressed the financial burden the war has placed on Americans. He characterized that burden as temporary and predicted a sharp decline in gasoline prices. He argued that accepting costs in the near term would bring longer-term benefits, offering those expectations as part of his defense of the campaign.