Trump Weighs Finishing Iran War Quickly or Letting It Wither as Istanbul Ministers Warn Against a New Attack

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States could end its war with Iran very quickly, and he questioned whether Washington should seek a swift conclusion or allow the conflict to gradually wind down. "We could end it very quickly," Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn as he left on a trip to Florida. "Do we want to finish it off or just want to let it wither?" He said oil is getting out through the Strait of Hormuz. "We are getting everything we want," he said.

Trump also said the United States could take all of the oil in Iran, according to live reporting of his remarks by investingLive. The outlet said financial markets followed the comments closely because traders are watching for any sign of a weekend escalation, and it put West Texas Intermediate crude up 2.82 dollars at 102.27 dollars a barrel while he spoke.

Ministers in Istanbul warn against a new attack

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan cautioned on Friday against any renewed attack on Iran, saying such a move would raise tensions and further expand the conflict, and he said diplomacy and dialogue were the only way to end the war. Fidan spoke at a press conference after meeting his counterparts from Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Britain and Italy in Istanbul. "We are all in agreement that a new attack on Iran would expand the war in the region," Fidan said. "A military intervention on Iran is not in any way a solution. Nobody approves this at the moment."

The ministers discussed developments in the Iran war, attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi militants, and Russia's war in Ukraine, Reuters reported. It was the first collective meeting between the Regional Four, made up of Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and the European Three of Germany, France and Britain, alongside Italy. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said after the meeting that renewed escalation between Iran and the United States would only have losers and would raise oil prices. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany, France and Britain were ready to negotiate with Iran to rule out its acquisition of nuclear weapons, while calling for support for Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Fidan said the countries had also discussed possible parameters to ensure the war in Iran does not expand further, but he did not give details.

Strike plans and a pledge not to attack before the vote

The comments in Washington and Istanbul followed a New York Times report on Wednesday that the United States and Israeli militaries had drawn up specific plans for renewed strikes against Iran after the United States midterm elections next month. Citing United States officials, the report said likely targets would include Iran's energy infrastructure, its nuclear facilities, and its missile and drone arsenal. Trump said earlier this month that the United States would not launch an attack on Iran before the midterms, as Washington and Tehran were having productive talks about ending their six-month-old war. That pledge drew wide attention again on social media on Friday as his new remarks spread online. Turkey, a member of NATO, has been in close contact with Washington, Tehran and regional mediators to seek an end to the war. It has repeatedly called for attacks to stop and warned against the regional expansion of the conflict, Reuters reported. Trump announced no decision on Friday, and he did not say when the war might end.