Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) told voters he understands they’re hurting because gas prices have soared due to the Iran war, but he said there is some reason for optimism: he believes President Donald Trump will have the war wrapped up in six months.
The Republican lawmaker shared his projection on Sunday while campaigning for GOP candidates in Nebraska.
“It’s cuz of the war in Iran, that’s just the simple fact. The price of oil’s gone up. And oil’s in everything. and the price of fertilizer’s gone up. I get all that,” Kennedy said in a speech.
He then turned to what he sees ahead. “I’m not going to get off the topic here, we’ll talk about Iran some other time. But we’re achieving our objectives in Iran, and without going into details, I think we’ll be out of there in about six months,” Kennedy said.
The senator said relief would follow. “And when that happens, you’re going to see the price of oil go down, and you’re going to see inflation go down, and you’re going to see some policies, if you reelect Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and people like him, policies by the federal government that are going to get the cost of living to go down,” he said.
Kennedy’s comments come 204 days after Trump launched Operation Epic Fury. A barrel of oil went for $67.02 the day before the war was launched. It is now going for around $97, an increase of 45%.
Earlier in the day Sunday, Trump gave his own outlook on the conflict in an interview with Fox News reporter Trey Yingst. The president said he is debating whether to wipe out Iran, since its theocratic leaders have taken too long to cut a peace deal.
“He tells Fox News he’s in a ‘deciding mode’ and that ‘very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future,'” Yingst reported. “The president described the current choices on the table as ‘wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically or making a deal.’ He added, ‘My question is, if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They better behave.'”
