Trump Claims Iran Seeking Deal to End War, Forecasts Drop in Fuel Prices

ISTANBUL, Sept 14 — US President Donald Trump claimed Sunday that Iran is actively seeking a deal to conclude the war in the Middle East, predicting that domestic fuel prices will drop significantly once hostilities cease.

Speaking to reporters in Ireland while attending the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament at his Trump International Golf Links resort, Trump indicated that the war could conclude before or after the upcoming US midterm elections, adding that gasoline prices would “drop like a rock” following a settlement.

According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), US gasoline prices averaged US$4.31 a gallon on Sunday, up from US$4.07 a month ago and US$3.19 a year prior.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and they won’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, emphasizing that Iranian officials are “calling constantly” to secure an agreement, though he cautioned that his administration would only accept a favorable settlement.

Iran’s Mehr News Agency rejected Trump’s claims as “absurd,” arguing that the US leader was attempting to justify mounting domestic economic problems driven by the ongoing confrontation.

When asked directly upon departing Ireland whether Washington was responsible for a early Sunday strike on an Iranian commercial vessel near Qeshm Island in southern Iran—which local officials reported left one person dead and three injured—Trump declined to confirm involvement.

“I don’t want to say,” Trump told reporters regarding the vessel strike.

Addressing recent diplomatic engagements between Gulf nations and Tehran, Trump dismissed personal concern over the talks. He also raised the possibility of maintaining a US military presence to control regional energy resources, stating, “We will ultimately get out unless we decide to stay and keep the oil, like Venezuela.”

The ongoing war with Iran, now in its seventh month, has claimed the lives of 18 US service members and triggered sustained volatility across global energy shipping routes.

-NMT