INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Sen. Jim Banks said he expects the Trump administration will be able to achieve its objectives and end the war with Iran quickly. Banks, an Indiana Republican, made those comments during an interview with News 8 for All INdiana Politics. Crude oil prices have risen sha rply due to Iran’s efforts to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil is shipped. The strait separates Iran from Oman and the United Arab Emirates and is just 21 nautical miles, or 25 land miles, wide at its narrowest point. This has constrained the crude oil supply, which has led to higher gas prices in the United States and around the world. Banks said he is concerned about rising gas prices and the quickest way to bring them down is to defeat Iran and reopen the strait. He said the Trump administration has a narrow set of objectives and it should be able to achieve them in short order. The U.S. military has said it has sunk more than 60 Iranian naval vessels, including at least 16 mine-laying ships. Much of Iran’s air force has been destroyed as well, though the country’s rulers have stepped up attacks on ships using ballistic missiles and drones. “He’s made it very clear that there are short-term objectives here,” he said. “At the end of the day, preventing Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon, and it’s my sense that everything we need to do, we can do in days, not months. So, the sooner we can resolve it, the better for oil prices. Hopefully, it’s only a blip.” Banks, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, also provided an update on Indiana National Guard personnel currently in the region. He said a small number of personnel, which he estimates around 75, are deployed to Central Command’s area of responsibility, which stretches from Egypt to Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Indiana National Guard has had an ongoing state partnership program with Saudi Arabia since 2024. Other members of Indiana’s Congressional delegation with intelligence or military oversight roles have previously said Indiana National Guard personnel do not appear to be involved in direct combat operations. News 8 also asked Banks if Congress should investigate an air strike that killed more than 165 people at a girls’ school in Iran. According to Al Jazeera, the school was within 1,000 feet of a medical clinic and a cultural complex operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Outside analysts have said a Tomahawk cruise missile appears to have hit the school. The Pentagon has launched a review of the strike. Banks said he expects to continue to be briefed on the strike. “Very tragic, very sad,” he said. “Of course, we want to know more and investigate it.” Banks also discussed a bill he has filed in Congress targeting commercial truck drivers who are not authorized to work in the United States. Called Dalilah’s law, after a Texas girl who was badly injured by a crash involving an undocumented truck driver, the bill would require all states to administer commercial driver’s license exams in English and revoke or deny CDLs for drivers who are not citizens, lawful permanent residents or do not have certain work visas. Indiana lawmakers passed similar, state-level legislation with overwhelming support in the final days of the 2026 legislative session. Banks said his bill would not conflict with state-level efforts. All INdiana Politics airs at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on WISH-TV. ...read more read less