Trump accuses Iran of trying to drive up oil prices before U.S. midterms and says Tehran is fabricating attacks and mine incidents

U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran on Thursday of trying to push oil prices higher ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, saying Tehran was spreading false reports about attacks and naval mines even as crude shipments through the region recovered.

“Iran is doing everything they can to drive up the price of oil prior to the U.S. Midterm Election,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They are even making up fake hits, mines, and everything else.”

Trump said more oil was now moving through the Strait of Hormuz than before the conflict began. Middle East crude exports have recovered sharply in recent weeks, with Reuters reporting that Gulf shipments have at times surpassed pre-war levels, although tanker attacks, freight costs and insurance risks remain elevated.

His comments came the same day Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy said seven vessels had been struck in the Persian Gulf region, including three it said encountered naval mines west of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also accused Iranian authorities of continuing to kill protesters and repeated his claim that 75,000 protesters had died in less than seven months.

He ended the post by reiterating that Iran would not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon.