Washington, Sept. 10 (SANA)U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpsaid he expects the war withIranto end after November’s midterm elections, even as renewed attacks near theStrait of Hormuzand escalating fighting inYemenraise concerns over regional security and global energy supplies.

Trump told reporters Wednesday that he believed Tehran was seeking to influence the U.S. elections and could not sustain the conflict much longer.

“I think the war will end as soon as the election is over because they can’t hold out much longer. They are desperate to try to influence the election,” Trump said, according to Reuters.

He also renewed a threat to strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified site housing two deeply buried tunnel complexes near the damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility, citing what he described as renewed activity there.

The United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran in February, citing concerns over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Shipping disruptions put pressure on energy markets

Trump’s remarks came amid renewed escalation near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it attacked 10 vessels near the strategic waterway on Wednesday after the United States sank five Iranian oil tankers, according to Reuters.

The exchanges marked the largest wave of attacks on shipping since the conflict began more than six months ago, further weakening hopes for an early end to hostilities.

Brent crude prices remained above $100 a barrel as disruptions continued to affect key shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

Only seven vessels passed through the strait on Wednesday, about half the average recorded over the previous 10 days, according to preliminary vessel-tracking data cited by Reuters.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy supplies, with about one-fifth of global oil supplies passing through it before the war.

Fighting intensifies around Red Sea routes

Tensions have also risen around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, another major global shipping route, as fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi militia has intensified in recent days.

Saudi Civil Defense issued repeated emergency alerts in the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait on Thursday following Houthi attacks. The Saudi-led coalition said at least 73 people were injured in attacks on four southern Saudi cities earlier this week.

Fighting has also intensified along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, where the Houthi militia is seeking to expand its control around the port city of Mokha and the strategically important Hanish Islands.

Government forces and their allies, meanwhile, have moved south toward Dhubab, opposite Perim Island, as both sides seek greater control over the approaches to the Bab al-Mandab.

The strait, which separates Yemen from Djibouti and Eritrea, connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a major route for oil, fuel and other goods moving between the Gulf, Europe and Asia.

Continued disruption around both Bab al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz has heightened concerns over Middle East energy exports and international shipping.