Iraq Closes Iran Border Crossings After Pipeline Attack; Trump Says Iran Conflict May End After Midterms

Iraq's government ordered the closure of two border crossings with Iran on Saturday after investigators linked a recent drone attack on Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline to launch sites in the Maysan province. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said the provincial operations commander and police chief were dismissed as part of the inquiry.

Saudi Arabia halted the pipeline as a precautionary measure, blaming the drones for the damage and saying it would not retaliate to give Iraq a chance to address the violations. Bahrain's foreign ministry described the strike as a breach of international law and called on the international community to respond.

Pakistan, which has acted as a mediator between the United States and Iran, issued a statement condemning the drone attacks and reaffirming its commitment to regional stability.

President Donald Trump, speaking in Ireland, said he believes Iran is behind the pipeline attack and predicted that the broader conflict with Tehran would end "very soon," likely after the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. He added that Iran is attempting to prolong the fighting to influence the election.

"I think very soon, I think it will be, probably, right after the midterms," Trump said. "They are trying to hold out as long as they can to complicate the election," he added.

The U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice program announced up to $10 million in rewards for information on senior al-Qaida leaders it says are operating from Iran, underscoring ongoing U.S. pressure on Tehran through military, sanctions and diplomatic channels.