WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday US does not need a deal with Iran and directed Vice President JD Vance to focus on domestic corruption.
"We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed! We’ve got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we’ve got their Strait!" Trump posted on Truth Social referring to Strait of Hormuz.
Comments came as diplomatic talks accelerated, with Washington and Tehran quietly negotiating agreement that could avert return to all-out war. Wall Street Journal reported Nov 11 that Vance was considering face-to-face peace talks with hard-line Iranian security official, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei, per Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın claim.
Trump directive came week after Vance blamed eight-month war launched Feb by US and Israel on Iran for Republicans' midterm drubbing, Democrats taking Congress. Vance long skeptical of intervention, led talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan in April that produced June 14-point memorandum of understanding that paused war but broke down within weeks. Opened 60-day window that passed without final deal.
In post Trump said: “I have asked Vice President Vance to focus his complete and total attention on the Massive Corruption and Crime taking place in Democrat run Cities and States throughout the US. Our Budget could be quickly BALANCED with the correction of this large-scale criminal activity. CORRUPTION is in the Democrat Leadership’s blood!”
Vance joined Oval Office meeting Thursday morning after post with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, chief of staff Stephen Miller. NY Post sources said Vance isn't entirely off Iran portfolio and would likely return if progress in stalled talks, special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner remain primary negotiators.
Mixed messages: Later Thursday in interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump took more bellicose posture. "We control the Gulf in terms of the Hormuz Strait. We control it, totally control it," said would absolutely consider it a defeat if he left White House and Iran crazies still in power. Monday told reporters at White House: At this point, it won't be necessary, taking the military action. Tuesday said war militarily is effectively over, status quo naval blockade remains.
Context: Trump has said main goal ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapon. Administration this week signaled blockade and economic sanctions working, meaning neither military escalation nor diplomacy needed. On Veterans Day at Arlington said: “We fought back… and we won. It's just a question of when we want to end it.”
Democrats promised intense oversight of Trump's business dealings when they take control in January after voters identified corruption as top concern.
Tags: #Trump #IranDeal #JDVance #StraitOfHormuz #TruthSocial #Midterms #USIranWar