Trump says he hopes Iran war is nearing an end as conflict spreads to Yemen

Washington, United States. President Donald Trump said he hoped the war against Iran was nearing an end, despite an escalation in its seventh month that has spread fighting to Yemen and increased risks to global oil supplies.

Conflict spreads to Yemen

Saudi aircraft pounded Yemen while Iran-backed Houthi fighters launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities.

The Houthis’ rapid advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, their attacks on Saudi Arabia and attacks that damaged the kingdom’s East-West oil pipeline have extended Tehran’s reach in the conflict and heightened concerns over global oil supplies.

The United States tightened its travel warning for Saudi Arabia as the conflict expanded into a new theatre, barring government employees from travelling within 20 miles, or 30 kilometres, of the Yemen border.

Trump cites possible deal

Hours after reports of fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, Trump told reporters on Wednesday evening: “Well, hopefully we are towards the end of the war.”

“They want to make a deal. We’ll see how that works out,” he said, referring to Iran and reiterating previous comments. Trump also said he had heard from Iran “directly”, without providing further details.

Trump has offered shifting goals and timelines for the war, which began on February 28 when the United States and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran struck Israel and US bases in Gulf states.

Oil supply concerns

The extension of the conflict into Yemen threatens to worsen the global energy supply shortage caused by disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the war.

Traders said a prolonged closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline could remove as much as 4 per cent of global oil supply. Saudi Arabia has not said when operations might resume.

Brent crude hovered around $108 a barrel on Wednesday, near its highest level since May. The average US retail price of diesel fuel, a politically sensitive measure, reached another all-time high of more than $6.30 a gallon for the first time.