Iran war won't end until after crucial November elections, says Trump

US President Donald Trump has said he does not think the Iran war will end until after November's midterm elections, adding that oil prices will not come down until then.

"I think the war's going to end immediately after the election because they can't hold out any longer," Trump said of Iran's leaders on Wednesday.

He made the comments as he headed to Texas for the Republican Party's first midterm election convention – and repeated them there, arguing that short-term economic pain was worth it to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Trump is facing falling polling numbers and pressure from within his party to end the war, which began when the US and Israel attacked Iran in February.

The conflict rapidly spread across the Middle East, as Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Israel and Arab states hosting US military facilities.

The price of Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, has risen above the $100 (£74) mark three times over the past six months , with Iranian attacks forcing production stoppages in Gulf states and disrupting exports through the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway.

The US has also imposed a naval blockade on Iran's ports and has recently begun striking Iranian tankers in response to attacks on warships and other vessels.

"Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward," Trump told reporters. "I think it's going to take a little bit longer than the midterm."

He added that Iran was "desperate to try and affect the election, so that we can get a nice weak group of people in there" – an apparent reference to the Democrats – "and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon".

He provided no proof of the election claim. Tehran has repeatedly denied it is seeking nuclear weapons and insisted its nuclear programme is solely peaceful.

At the convention in Texas, Trump echoed some of these lines, saying the price of oil would tumble "as soon as we win the war with Iran".

In his speech, he also referenced dissatisfaction among some Americans on the issue: "Guys come up to me and say, 'I wish you didn't do the war in Iran. Now gasoline is up'".

Trump also said further negotiations with Iran could possibly happen, "but it's not something we're looking at".

The US president initially predicted the war, which is now in its seventh month, would last only a matter of weeks. The conflict, and its knock-on effects on everything from fuel to groceries, has led to a steep decline in his approval ratings – and pressure from those within his party, including staunch supporters, to quickly end the war.

Midterm elections will be held on 3 November, and Republicans are in danger of losing control on Congress.

At the convention, Trump sought to energise the party ahead of November. Historically, a sitting president's party tends to lose seats in Congress in the midterm elections.

Fighting in the Middle East has intensified in recent days, as oil facilities throughout the region come under attack, driving up the global price of fuel and other goods that require shipping.

The price of oil hit $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July. Similarly, earlier this week the price of US diesel hit an all-time high , which is likely to cause a ripple effect on prices across the US.

There are also predictions that the rising fuel costs could lead to higher interest rates.

Watch: Do Republicans blame Trump for high oil prices?

Trump says Iran war will end 'immediately after' midterms as he heads to Republican convention

On Tuesday night, the US military said it had attacked and destroyed five oil tankers with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Gulf.

The IRGC, in response, said early on Wednesday that its naval forces had attacked two US Navy destroyers and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing "heavy damage" to the vessels. Centcom denied its warships were hit.

The IRGC also said it had launched ballistic missiles at US military maintenance facilities, hangars and aircraft at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Jordan's armed forces said they intercepted 20 Iranian missiles and that two other missiles fell in unpopulated areas with no casualties reported.

Later on Wednesday, sources told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that several US fighter jets at the air base were damaged in the Iranian strikes.

One A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft was hit and was missing a wing, and about eight F-15s sustained light damage, according to people familiar with the matter.

Explosions were reported in southern Iran on Wednesday night, but Iranian official sources denied they were US strikes, saying the sounds came from the sea.

In a separate development on Tuesday, the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on south-western Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, causing fires at several oil facilities.

Saudi media reported more Houthi attacks on the kingdom on Wednesday, citing a military spokesman as condemning missile and drone strikes on the cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Jazan.

The Houthis have said they are retaliating for days of Saudi air strikes on their territory in western Yemen, where a four-year-old informal ceasefire has collapsed.

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