Trump: Houthis Do Not Want to Confront Us

Dublin-Washington-Agencies: US President Donald Trump said yesterday that the war with Iran would end “very soon,” asserting that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking from Dublin, Trump added, “I think it will happen very soon. I think it will most likely be right after the midterm elections. They are trying to hold out as long as possible to complicate the elections. But I think people are aware of that.” He clarified that Iran wants to reach an agreement, noting that the United States is “winning big,” and that Tehran will not be able to acquire a nuclear weapon. He said “everything will be fine” regarding Iran, pointing out that the Houthis do not want to fight the United States. Commenting on the recent attack on oil pipelines in Saudi Arabia, Trump suggested that Iran was behind the attack.

In a separate development, the US president said his administration had done a “wonderful job” regarding the Gaza sector, noting that it launched a ceasefire initiative and facilitated the restoration of peace. He added that the United States contributed to the return of a large number of hostages to Israel.

Meanwhile, The New York Times published a report by Jonathan Swan, Adam Entous, and Maggie Haberman, revealing that US Vice President JD Vance held direct and unusual communications with American military commanders in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia during the spring and summer, asking them to provide candid assessments regarding the war with Iran, according to current and former officials. According to the newspaper, Vance, who had opposed the war before it broke out, sought to hear directly from military leaders’ opinions and their own estimates before integrating them into the picture presented to President Donald Trump by the Department of War.

The communications covered a wide range of files related to the war, including operational objectives and tactics, casualty estimates, what Iran could do in the Strait of Hormuz, its ability to adapt to strikes, and the magnitude of sanctions the Iranian government could withstand. The vice president also asked leaders to provide precise details about their vital equipment and ammunition stocks, and the impact of transferring weapons to the Middle East on the ability of US forces in Europe and Asia to deter China, Russia, and North Korea. According to officials who spoke to the newspaper, commanders were particularly candid about their concerns regarding the depletion of Patriot interceptor missile stocks, which form the backbone of US air defense systems. By late spring, the stock of these missiles at one front had dropped to fewer than 100, and the war had depleted the front’s stock of the Army’s tactical missile systems, with a range of up to 190 miles, as well as the stock of precision strike missiles that were supposed to replace them. Commanders informed Vance that stocks of vital ammunition of these types had reached their lowest levels ever, according to accounts cited by the newspaper from current and former officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to officials, Vance emerged from these discussions deeply concerned about the war strategy and the chances of achieving its objectives. Officials confirmed that Vance’s communications with military commanders were known to Trump, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Dan Caine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as National Security Advisor, along with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Sean Barnell, Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement that Secretary Hegseth worked to provide the vice president and other senior White House officials with direct access to operational commanders, aiming to ensure the president’s team had all available data on ongoing operations in the Middle East.

For his part, General Joseph Holsted, spokesperson for General Caine, said there was “no gap” in providing military advice to the president, vice president, and defense secretary. Vance’s spokesperson, Luke Schroeder, praised what he described as a partnership with Hegseth and Caine, stating that the vice president considers them “invaluable colleagues” in advising the president and supporting his executive decisions.