Trump: War with Iran not starting up again, but if it does, it’ll be quick

US President Donald Trump denies that the war with Iran is starting up again, claiming that the current escalation will wrap up quickly, as Washington seeks to prevent oil prices from climbing back up.

“I don’t think it’s going to start again. I think it’s going to go very quickly. They hit a couple of ships, and so we hit them much harder,” Trump says during a press conference at the conclusion of a NATO summit in Ankara.

“Anything that happens is going to be over very quickly, and we’ll only make it safer — including for oil,” Trump stresses, adding that the US has managed to get significant amounts of oil out of the Strait of Hormuz since the memorandum of understanding was reached with Iran last month.

“We’re not looking for long term,” Trump stresses.

Critics of Trump say Iran is exploiting the US aversion to a dragged out conflict and aware that the president does not want oil prices to rise again as the November midterms approach.

Trump reiterates that his negotiators are still engaging with Iran before paradoxically declaring, “I’m not sure I want to make a deal. Let’s just finish the job.”