Trump Says Iran War Could End "Very Soon" Amid New Strait of Hormuz Incidents

President Donald Trump said at a rally in Alabama that the war with Iran could come to an end "very soon," according to a report from Dawn. He also said the US currently sees no clear negotiating counterpart within Tehran's leadership. Trump said the conflict would ultimately end "one way or another," suggesting a resolution would likely come after the US midterm elections. He reiterated his position that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. New Incidents Near the Strait of Hormuz Trump's comments came as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported two separate incidents involving oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz region. The first tanker, departing the strait, was struck by an unidentified projectile, triggering a small onboard fire and a loss of power. The fire was extinguished, and the vessel was able to continue its voyage. Several hours later, a second crude oil tanker reported being struck by an unidentified projectile east of Oman. According to UKMTO, there were no casualties or environmental damage reported, and the crew remained unharmed. Relevant authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding both incidents. Concerns Over a Potential US Military Buildup Separately, Sen. Chris Van Hollen accused the Trump administration of preparing to expand the US military presence in the Middle East, calling on Congress to cut off funding for what he described as an illegal war against Iran. Van Hollen said the administration is planning to deploy as many as 10,000 additional service members to the region. His comments follow reports suggesting the Pentagon may deploy a third carrier strike group along with additional Marine Corps vessels to the area. At the same time, the Pentagon has commissioned a research initiative known as the Meridian project, focused on the future of warfare and lessons drawn from operations against Iran. The study is expected to examine artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, directed energy, robotics, and biotechnology. Iran Signals Military Advancements Mostafa Izadi, deputy commander-in-chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Iranian forces have made significant technological progress across land, air, air defense, and maritime capabilities, and suggested additional "surprises" could be in store for adversaries going forward.