Trump says no Iran deal needed and redirects Vance to domestic issues
The US president says talks with Iran are no longer needed, as the wider standoff in the Gulf continues.
Key points
- Trump says Washington has dropped efforts to reach an agreement with Iran
- Vance has been told to shift his attention to matters at home
- Vance had been in contact with go-betweens in Iran and Qatar about reviving talks
- A blockade of Iranian harbours remains, while most Hormuz shipping has resumed
- Trump says military action is not needed now but remains possible
President Donald Trump has stated that Washington has stopped pursuing an agreement to bring the Iran conflict to a close. According to The Guardian, he has also directed Vice-President JD Vance to shift his focus toward matters at home.
In a message posted on his social media platform on Thursday, Trump said Vance should concentrate on what he described as serious wrongdoing and criminal activity in cities and states run by Democrats. He also wrote that the US had no need for a deal with Iran. He claimed Washington holds large sums of Iranian money and the strait of Hormuz.
Read also: Trump calls new US strikes on Iran highly unlikely
Vance’s role in talks
Vance had reportedly been in contact with go-betweens in Iran and Qatar, seeking to get negotiations going again. The conflict started in February, after the US and Israel carried out coordinated attacks on Iran. In response, Iran shut access to the strait of Hormuz, sending fuel costs sharply higher around the world.
Several weeks earlier, Vance had also sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, asking to resume direct talks. The Guardian notes that Vance led a US team to Islamabad in April to work toward ending the fighting.
Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff have additionally been part of the diplomacy. Axios reported last week that Vance had been in near-daily contact with Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, and other go-betweens.
The current stalemate
The latest statement effectively leaves the two sides at an impasse. A blockade of Iranian harbours remains in place, while most shipping through the strait has resumed, including crude oil cargoes.
For several months, the US has refrained from large strikes on Iran, and Iran has not fired large volleys of ballistic missiles at American bases or regional partners. Trump said last week that the war was effectively over.
At a White House briefing held shortly after he met Qatar’s prime minister, Trump said Israel and Gulf partners were well shielded from Iran. He added that escalation was unnecessary for now, though US forces were prepared to act for any reason. Trump also said Gulf leaders had urged him not to resume the fighting.
Political fallout
The move pushes Vance away from the central foreign policy issue of his vice-presidency. He had openly kept his distance from the war. After the midterm elections, Vance attributed the crushing losses suffered by Republicans to the conflict, saying in a long message on X that the president had said as much himself.
Trump has continued to defend the conflict. He admits it pushed fuel prices higher, but he maintains that it was necessary to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Related: Hegseth gives medal to guard who told his group to be quiet
Frequently asked questions
Has Trump ended efforts to reach a deal with Iran?
According to The Guardian, Trump has said Washington has stopped pursuing an agreement to close the conflict. He stated that no such deal is required.
What is Vanceu0026#039;s new role?
Trump has directed Vice-President JD Vance toward domestic matters rather than Iran talks. Vance had earlier led efforts to restart negotiations.
Is the strait of Hormuz open?
Most shipping through the strait of Hormuz has resumed, including crude oil cargoes, according to The Guardian. Washington is still enforcing a blockade on Iranian harbours.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
