CNBC reports:

U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his claim that the Iran war will end “whenever I want it to,” but insists that Tehran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

Speaking at a rally in Lubbock, Texas, Trump said “Somebody asked me before, ‘When will the war in Iran end?’ I said, ‘Whenever I want it to end.’”

Trump said it “would be very quick, but we have to have an end properly,” with a “total statement” that Iran would never have a nuclear weapon.

His statement comes as the president grapples with poll numbers that are near a record low due to rising energy costs and affordability issues as the U.S. heads into the midterm elections on Nov. 3.

Currently, Trump’s approval ratings stand at 32%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Monday.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said on Oct. 12 that the war was costing American families an average of $2,000 so far, where $1,100 comes from higher energy costs, $540 from heightened interest rate costs and $360 due to increased military spending.

The Iran conflict shows no sign of winding down, with Trump saying that he will soon decide whether to “make a deal” with Iran or “finish it off.” [Continue reading…]