President Donald Trump on Wednesday brushed aside suggestions that political pressure from the upcoming midterm elections could alter his Iran strategy, as he maintained sweeping demands for a deal to end the months-long conflict that has disrupted trade through the Strait of Hormuz and roiled global oil markets.
The remarks underscored Trump’s determination to sustain his maximum-pressure posture toward Tehran despite growing concerns over the economic and geopolitical fallout from the conflict.
Chairing a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said he would not sign off on what he called a “crummy” deal with Iran.
He also warned Tehran of further military action if it failed to give the United States what it wants in exchange for ending the war.
“I don’t care about the midterms,” Trump said.
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The president argued that Tehran had miscalculated in believing “they were going to out-wait me.”
Referring to Iran’s losses in the conflict and its weakened position, Trump said the country was “negotiating on fumes.”
Trump’s tough talk on Iran follows some GOP members’ demand that the White House maintain a hardline approach toward Iran, and not give too much concessions to Tehran until it commits to renouncing its suspected nuclear weapons plans.
Earlier, Trump had suggested that negotiations with Iran on a framework had been “largely negotiated.”
His comments also suggested that the duration of the conflict would not influence his decision-making, drawing comparisons with previous U.S. wars that stretched on for years.
“We’ve been doing this for a few months. Vietnam lasted 19 years. Korea lasted eight years. Afghanistan lasted many years,” Trump said when asked about the timeframe for ending the war.
At another point during the meeting, he added: “They were all many, many years. And we’re into it for a few months.”
At the same time, Trump indicated that Tehran was beginning to bend under U.S. pressure, while warning of severe repercussions if Iran refused to comply with American demands.
Iran is “starting to give us the things that they have to give us … and if they do, that’s great, and if they won’t, then the man on my left is going to finish them off,” he said, gesturing toward Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was seated beside him.
The comments came as concerns continue to mount among U.S. allies and international markets over the conflict’s impact on maritime trade and energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically sensitive shipping corridors.
Trump also renewed his argument that Washington’s Middle Eastern allies should bear more responsibility for regional security, and join Abraham Accords to establish normal relations with Israel.
“I think they owe that to us, to be honest,” he argued.
The U.S. president also had sharp words for Oman, which is reportedly engaged in talks with Tehran over proposals to levy fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Nobody is going to control” the strait, Trump said, insisting the waterway would remain “open to everybody” once a U.S.-Iran agreement is reached.
“Oman will behave just like everybody else,” he said, warning that otherwise the United States would have to “blow them up.”
The remarks are likely to deepen debate in Washington over the trajectory of the conflict and the risks of a prolonged U.S. confrontation with Iran, even as the administration argues its pressure campaign is forcing Tehran into concessions.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
