Trump says he’s “not satisfied” with Iran on talks, doesn’t care about effect on midterms
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he’s “not satisfied” with Iran’s negotiations on a deal to end the war and that he doesn’t care about the conflict’s effect on the midterm elections because he won victories in Tuesday’s primaries.
“They want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven’t gotten there,” Trump said of Iran during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be. We will be either that, or we’ll have to just finish the job.”
He said Iran “thought they were going to outweigh me” because of how the continuation of the war could affect the November elections. “I don’t care about the midterms,” he said “Look, what happened last night. That was the prelude to the midterms. People understand it.”
Trump said later that Iran is “I think starting to give us the things that they have to give us.” But he reiterated his threat that the U.S. could respond with military might. “If they won’t, then the man on my left is going to finish them off,” he said, referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Trump did not speak specifically to a report from Iranian state media media that Iran and the U.S. had a six-point plan Wednesday, which reportedly includes that the U.S. Navy would lift its blockade of key Iranian port near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supply flows, and that American forces will withdraw from the vicinity of Iran.
Two Iranian sources inside Tehran with knowledge of the talks also said the U.S. and Iran had agreed to the framework, adding that its focus is on addressing immediate concerns while allowing both sides time to negotiate a permanent deal to end the war.
But the White House did not confirm the memorandum or the details from Iranian state media when asked by MS NOW.
The White House rapid response account dismissed reports of the framework earlier on X, calling it “a complete fabrication.”
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Inzamam Rashid is a MS NOW contributor and Monocle’s Gulf Correspondent based in Dubai. He has previously reported for Sky News and the BBC
Julianne McShane is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW who also covers the politics of abortion and reproductive rights. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at jmcshane.19 or follow her on X or Bluesky.
Sydney Carruth is a breaking news reporter covering national politics and policy for MS NOW. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at SydneyCarruth.46 or follow her work on X and Bluesky.
