Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States did not need a deal with Iran and directed Vice-President JD Vance to focus on alleged crime and corruption in Democratic-led cities and states. The move sidelines Vance from efforts to revive talks to end the eight-month war.
Trump argued in a social media post that Washington already had sufficient leverage over Tehran. The administration has maintained sanctions and a blockade of Iranian ports while seeking to keep international shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a major route for global oil shipments, and restrictions on traffic since the start of the war have pushed up fuel costs.
Vance had led earlier negotiations
Vance led a US delegation to Pakistan in April for talks with Iranian officials. That diplomatic effort produced a memorandum of understanding in June that paused the fighting, but the arrangement broke down within weeks. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Vance was considering a face-to-face meeting with a senior Iranian security official. Reuters said it had been unable to confirm that a meeting was being considered.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week that Washington opposed Tehran’s demand for war reparations. Trump had previously suggested that Iran might be more willing to reach an agreement after the US midterm elections. His remarks on Thursday signalled that he now sees less reason to pursue one.
War costs sharpen political divisions
Vance has cited the cost of the Iran war as one reason for Republican losses in the midterms. Trump has defended the decision to launch joint strikes with Israel in February, saying the war was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Trump said that addressing alleged fraud in Democratic-led jurisdictions could help balance the federal budget. He offered no evidence for that claim in his post. Vance’s office did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
NewsHub Finance | World News | 13 November 2026
Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States did not need a deal with Iran and directed Vice-President JD Vance to focus on alleged crime and corruption in Democratic-led cities and states. The move sidelines Vance from efforts to revive talks to end the eight-month war.
Recent Comments